Light-triggered, self-immolative nucleic Acid-drug nanostructures.

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.