Patent ID: 8017237

Claim:
A nano-construct comprising: (a) a core material comprising a polymer, (b) a nanoshell formed on the core material, and (c) a bioactive agent, wherein the polymer is a degradable polymer selected from the group consisting of a polyester, poly(ester amide), polyether, polyanhydride, polyorthoester or a non-degradable polymer selected from the group consisting of poly(N-(3-aminopropyl)methacrylamide), a copolymer of N-(3-aminopropyl)methacrylamide, and a combination of these, and wherein the nanoshell comprises a metal having a thickness from about 5 nm to about 50 nm selected from the group consisting of gold, iron, magnesium, zinc, calcium, tungsten, alloys based on these metals, and combinations thereof.