10.1021/jacs.5b00795.s001 Xuyu Tan Xuyu Tan Ben B. Li Ben B. Li Xueguang Lu Xueguang Lu Fei Jia Fei Jia Clarissa Santori Clarissa Santori Priyanka Menon Priyanka Menon Hui Li Hui Li Bohan Zhang Bohan Zhang Jean J. Zhao Jean J. Zhao Ke Zhang Ke Zhang Light-Triggered, Self-Immolative Nucleic Acid-Drug Nanostructures American Chemical Society 2015 cancer cells acid shell payload molecules model drug DNA light activation drug molecules molecule fragments prodrug molecules intracellular delivery carrier systems nanostructures exhibit 2015-05-20 00:00:00 Journal contribution https://acs.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Light_Triggered_Self_Immolative_Nucleic_Acid_Drug_Nanostructures/2165230 The simultaneous intracellular delivery of multiple types of payloads, such as hydrophobic drugs and nucleic acids, typically requires complex carrier systems. Herein, we demonstrate a self-deliverable form of nucleic acid–drug nanostructure that is composed almost entirely of payload molecules. Upon light activation, the nanostructure sheds the nucleic acid shell, while the core, which consists of prodrug molecules, disintegrates via an irreversible self-immolative process, releasing free drug molecules and small molecule fragments. We demonstrate that the nanostructures exhibit enhanced stability against DNase I compared with free DNA, and that the model drug (camptothecin) released exhibits similar efficacy as free, unmodified drugs toward cancer cells.