Magnetically propelled lipid vesicles for directed motion and light-triggered cargo release

Targeted drug delivery and precision medicine aim to improve treatment efficacy while reducing systemic toxicity. Lipid-based delivery systems, like giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs), have emerged as excellent delivery vehicles due to their inherent biocompatibility and capability in encapsulating variety of drugs. However, achieving guided motion of GUVs remains a significant challenge. Here, we perform a systematic experimental investigation of magnetic-particle-loaded GUVs (magGUVs) driven by external magnetic field [1]. We further simulate the propulsion of GUVs driven by an internally encapsulated particle under a constant force with a lattice Boltzmann simulation framework. Moreover, we demonstrate a proof-of-concept integration of directed motion of magGUVs and light-triggered release of inner contents for on-demand drug delivery. Our work provides a foundation for navigational control and localized release in lipid-based drug carriers, offering new opportunities for targeted therapeutic applications in precision medicine.

[1] Malik, Vinit Kumar, et al. "Magnetically driven lipid vesicles for directed motion and light-triggered cargo release." Nanoscale 17 (2025): 13720-13726.