Graphene quantum dots-gated hollow mesoporous carbon nanoplatform for targeting drug delivery and synergistic chemo-photothermal therapy.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Carbon-based drug delivery systems have attracted great interest because of their excellent photothermal conversion capability and high specific surface area for drug loading. Herein, we report a multifunctional nanoplatform based on hyaluronic acid (HA)-modified and graphene quantum dot (GQD)-gated hollow mesoporous carbon nanoparticle (HMCN) for anticancer drug encapsulation and targeted chemo-photothermal therapy of CD44 receptor-overexpressed cancer cells.

METHODS:

In this design, HMCN was not only used as a nanocarrier with high drug loading content to achieve chemotherapy, but also as a near-infrared absorbing agent to realize photothermal therapy. GQDs could not only prevent premature drug release during blood circulation, but also enhance the chemo-photothermal therapeutic efficacy for complete tumor growth suppression. After being modified with HA, the HA-HMCN(DOX)@GQDs could specifically target cancer cells.

RESULTS:

As expected, the as-prepared HMCN exhibited high doxorubicin (DOX)-loading capacity of 410 mg/g and excellent light-to-heat conversion property. The DOX was released from HA-HMCN(DOX)@GQDs in a near-infrared laser and pH stimuli-responsive manner, which could enhance the therapeutic effect. In vitro cell biological experimental results confirmed that the nanoplatform possesses excellent biocompatibility, specifically target CD44 receptor-overexpressing human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells, and has remarkable synergistic chemo-photothermal killing capacity. The in vivo therapeutic studies in HeLa xenografts also showed negligible toxicity of HA-HMCN@GQDs and complete inhibition of tumor growth of HA-HMCN(DOX) @GQDs with near-infrared irradiation.

CONCLUSION:

The excellent therapeutic effects demonstrated in vitro and in vivo suggested the HMCN-based nanoplatform holds potential for efficient dual-responsive targeting drug delivery and synergistic chemo-photothermal therapy.

• Authors: Junfeng Fang, Yanqing Liu, Yiwen Chen, Dimei Ouyang, Guangji Yang, Tao Yu
• Journal: International journal of nanomedicine (Int J Nanomedicine) Vol. 13 Pg. 5991-6007 ( 2018) ISSN: 1178-2013 [Electronic] New Zealand
• PMID: 30323587 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• Graphite
• Doxorubicin
• Hyaluronic Acid

Topics

• Animals
• Antineoplastic Agents (pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Cell Survival (drug effects)
• Doxorubicin (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Drug Liberation
• Female
• Graphite (chemistry)
• HeLa Cells
• Humans
• Hyaluronic Acid (chemistry)
• Hyperthermia, Induced
• Mice, Nude
• Nanoparticles (chemistry, ultrastructure)
• Neoplasms (pathology, therapy)
• Phototherapy
• Porosity
• Quantum Dots (chemistry, therapeutic use)