Fig. 3: Photothermal degradation and drug loading/release of MSbNSs.

a Photothermal stability study of PEGylated MSbNSs-2/MSbNSs-3 under the irradiation of 1210 nm light. Experiments were performed three times with similar results. b TEM images of PEGylated MSbNSs-3 after different heating and cooling cycles. A representative image of 3 replicates from each group is shown. Simulation results of the electric field enhancement (|E/E₀|) and the heat power density Q inside the c MSbNSs-2 and d MSbNSs-3 illuminated by 1210 nm light. e Schematic illustration of photothermal triggered degradation and DOX release. f DOX loading capacity and efficiency of MSbNSs-3. Experiments were performed two times with similar results. g Photothermal triggered DOX release in PBS (pH = 7.4) irradiated with 1 W cm⁻² of a 1210 nm laser. Data are expressed as means ± SD (n = 3).