In this work, cationic switchable pillar[5]arene nanogates
that
bear an imidazolium scaffold (MIP5+) were constructed,
and these nanogates were used to electrostatically interact with negatively
charged spherical mesoporous silica nanoparticles (96.0 ± 1.0
nm) and rod-shaped silica particles (391.0 ± 0.2 nm in length
and 219 in width), which are both functionalized with carboxypropyl
groups. The nanochannels of silica-based materials were used as containers
to store the anticancer drug doxorubicin (DXR) trapped by the nanogate.
Under physiological conditions (pH = 7.4), DXR molecules were firmly
trapped in the nanochannels of the spherical and rod-shaped containers
without any premature release, demonstrating that the nanogate was
efficient in sealing the nanopores. Under acidic conditions (pH =
4.5), the carboxypropyl groups were protonated, and the electrostatic
interactions between the containers and the nanogates were disrupted,
releasing the drug. In vitro studies were performed to explore the
differences between N-methylimidazolium-pillar[5]arene
nanogate mounted on DXR-loaded spherical and rod-shaped containers
and the resulting cytotoxicity effect against human breast adenocarcinoma
cells and cellular uptake. A higher cytotoxicity effect and better
cellular uptake were detected for the nanogate on DXR-loaded rod-shaped
silica containers. Additionally, this device presents a lower uptake
rate by nontumor cells than that of free DXR. Therefore, our findings
indicate that the rod shape of mesoporous silica in nanogated devices
is important due to the cytotoxicity effect and cellular uptake and
should be further explored in drug delivery systems.