Charge-conversion and ultrasound-responsive O-carboxymethyl Chitosan Nanodroplets for Controlled Drug Delivery

Abstract

Aim: O-carboxymethyl chitosan/perfluorohexane nanodroplets (O-CS NDs) and doxorubicin-loading O-carboxymethyl chitosan nanodroplets were synthesized and functionally tested as drug delivery system in vitro. Materials & methods: The characteristics, charge conversion, stability, cytotoxicity, ultrasound imaging ability, interaction with tumor cells of the nanodroplets and eradication on tumor cells of the doxorubicin-loaded nanodroplets were investigated. Results: O-CS NDs (below 200 nm) achieved higher tumor cellular associations at acidic pH, with great serum stability, pH-dependent charge conversion and good ultrasound imaging ability. Doxorubicin-loading O-carboxymethyl chitosan nanodroplets exhibited strong cytotoxicity on PC-3 cells with ultrasound exposure. Conclusion: These stable, safe and smart O-CS NDs may be a promising approach to improve cell interaction efficiency as an ultrasound imaging and cancer-targeting drug delivery system.

Graphical abstract

Keywords:

• acoustic droplet vaporization
• ADV
• charge-conversion
• nanodroplets
• O-carboxymethyl chitosan
• ultrasound

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81771843), Science and Technology Developing Program of Shandong Provincial Government of China (No. 2017GSF18107) and the Science and Technology Development Planning of Jinan City in Shandong province of China (No. 201704084). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.