Proteolytic Actuation of Nanoparticle Self‐Assembly

Sleeping giant: Inorganic nanoparticles are synthesized to exist in a latent form until proteolytic activation drives them to self-assemble into nanostructures with amplified magnetic properties. Binding of complimentary Fe3O4 nanoparticles is blocked by the attachment of inhibitory polymers that may be removed by proteases involved in cancer-cell invasion and metastasis.