Chemotherapeutic agents and
photosensitizers often suffer from poor
tumor selectivity, high side toxicity, or low water solubility. To address these problems, various drug delivery systems (DDS) have been explored but most of them are toxic, difficult to synthesize, or of single function. In order to design a highly biocompatible, conveniently prepared, multi-functional drug delivery system, herein, an aptamer of
vascular endothelial growth factor (
VEGF) and a
cytosine (C)-
DNA fragment were grafted on the surface of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION), and then a chemotherapeutic agent
daunomycin (DNM) and a
photosensitizer 5, 10, 15, 20-tetra (phenyl-4-N-methyl-4-pyridyl)
porphyrin (
TMPyP) were self-assembled with the hybridized
VEGF-based
DNA structure. By loading DNM and
TMPyP, the DDS displayed strong chemotherapeutic/phototherapeutic capability against
cancer cells via mechanisms such as
mitochondrial dysfunction and ROS elevation, which triggered the apoptosis of the
tumor cells. The dual delivery of chemotherapeutical agents and
photosensitizers with aptamer/C-rich
DNA successfully integrated the functions of pH stimuli-responsive drug release and chemotherapeutic/phototherapeutic modalities into one single system and thus could be considered as an ideal
drug delivery vehicle with great potential in clinic.