Dual-Responsive Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles Coated with Carbon Dots and Polymers for Drug Encapsulation and Delivery

Abstract

Aim: Smart mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) coated with carbon dots (CDs) and poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) (PNVCL) as a mixed shell (CDs/PNVCL polymer grafted MSNs) were prepared for pH-trigged anticancer drug release and real-time monitoring. Materials & methods: The amino-terminated PNVCL and amino-rich CDs were grafted onto the surface of aldehyde group functionalized MSNs through Schiff base reaction. Doxorubicin (DOX) was loaded into the prepared nanoparticles. Results: DOX could be quickly released in the tumor environment, leading to cell apoptosis. The linear fit between the percentage of released DOX and the fluorescence intensity of CDs indicated that the change in fluorescence intensity could be used to monitor drug release in real time. Conclusion: The as-prepared CDs/PNVCL polymer grafted MSNs are promising candidates for integrating controllable release and real-time monitoring in cancer treatment.

Keywords::

• carbon dots
• drug delivery
• mesoporous silica
• poly(N-vinylcaprolactam)
• thermo/pH dual responsive

Supplementary data

To view the supplementary data that accompany this paper please visit the journal website at: www.tandfonline.com/doi/suppl/10.2217/nnm-2019-0440

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 51373073 and 51873085), Natural Science Foundation of Liaoning Province of China (no. 20180550947 and 2019-ZD-0192) and Natural Science Foundation for Education Department of Liaoning Province of China (no. LJC201906). 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.

Additional information

Funding

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 51373073 and 51873085), Natural Science Foundation of Liaoning Province of China (no. 20180550947 and 2019-ZD-0192) and Natural Science Foundation for Education Department of Liaoning Province of China (no. LJC201906). 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.