Drug Release Can Be Triggered with Infrared Light

Researchers at the University of California in San Diego (UCSD) announce the development of a new method of triggering the release of encapsulated drugs right inside the human body. The method could reduce side-effects associated with techniques currently in use.

UCSD experts say that this applies only to drugs that are encapsulated in polymers, or perhaps nanoparticle cages. They add that their approach relies on the use of near-infrared light (NIR) to control when the drugs are released.

What this does is it allows investigators to control the exact time at which the active ingredients are released. This can prevent them from spreading out through the body, and causing more harm than good in healthy cells.

The work will find increasing numbers of applications in the near future, as more and more delivery systems are created. All of them will require a reliable, risk-free method of triggering, and NIR has very little chances of being replicated in other manners than intentionally, ScienceNow reports.