Nanomaterials for effective drug delivery require zero pre-release and on-demand release of therapeutic drugs. In this work we demonstrate a novel drug delivery system composed of a mesoporous silica platform conjugated to CuS nanoparticles with two complementary DNA sequences. CuS nanoparticles act as both gatekeepers preventing pre-release of drugs and photothermal agents for effective killing of cancer cells. This system exhibits temperature and NIR-responsive DOX release, with an additional accelerated release rate with GSH treatment. Therefore, it can act as an effective anticancer drug delivery carrier with triggered drug release and efficient anti-cancer effect in vitro after NIR irradiation.

Illustration of both pH- and NIR-controlled drug deliveries using DOX loaded MCN–CuS nanocomposites and their application in cancer chemo-photothermal therapy.

A solid-state p–n junction photovoltaic cell can be fabricated in a common chemistry lab. It is prepared by coating a p-type copper sulfide film on an n-type silicon wafer via a simple chemical bath deposition method. The resulting p–n junction shows an obvious photovoltaic effect. This activity offers students an opportunity to gain hands-on experience with the technology of solid-state solar cells.