Redox/pH dual stimuli‐responsive ZnO QDs‐gated mesoporous silica nanoparticles as carriers in cancer therapy

Abstract

New drug delivery system (ZnO@CMS) of the redox and pH dual-stimuli responsive based on colloidal mesoporous silica nanoparticles (CMS) has been designed, in which zinc oxide quantum dots (ZnO QDs) as a capping agent was conjugated on the surface of nanoparticles by amide bonds. The release behaviour of doxorubicin (DOX) as the model drug from ZnO@CMS (ZnO@CMS-DOX) indicated the redox and pH dual-stimuli responsive properties due to the acidic dissolution of ZnO QDs and cleavage of the disulphide bonds. The haemolysis and bovine serum albumin adsorption assays showed that the modification of ZnO QDs on the mesoporous silica nanoparticles modified by mercapto groups (CMS-SH)(ZnO@CMS) had better biocompatibility compared to CMS-SH. The cell viability and cellular uptake tests revealed that the ZnO@CMS might achieve the antitumour effect on cancer cells due to the cytotoxicity of ZnO QDs. Therefore, ZnO@CMS might be potential nanocarriers of the drug delivery system in cancer therapy. The in vivo evaluation of ZnO@CMS would be carried out in future work.

pH-Responsive Pesticide-Loaded Hollow Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles with ZnO Quantum Dots as a Gatekeeper for Control of Rice Blast Disease

“…HMSNs have an amorphous structure, so they show a broad peak between 20° and 30°. The characteristic peaks of ZnO QDs appear at 31.85, 34.75, 36.28, 47.67, 56.72, 62.97 and 68.25°, indicating that the prepared ZnO QDs possess the hexagonal wurtzite structure [ 32 ]. For HMSNs@ZnO QDs, both the amorphous peak of HMSNs and the characteristic peaks of ZnO QDs can be observed.…”

“…Therefore, they are considered an ideal candidate for a pH-stimuli-responsive gatekeeper. Wang [ 32 ] et al prepared a doxorubicin (DOX) delivery system that responded to dual stimuli of redox and pH by attaching ZnO QDs to the surface of mesoporous silica as capping agents via amide bonds. The acidic dissolution of ZnO QDs and the release of DOX were demonstrated through in vitro release experiments.…”

Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles: Properties and Strategies for Enhancing Clinical Effect

“…For example, latching mechanisms functionalized by metal ions of cobalt, nickel, or calcium show pH-specific release of molecules loaded into MSNs [156]. Zinc quantum dots were similarly studied as MSN gatekeepers, given their rapid dissolution at acidic pH values [157,158]. One system showed similar biocompatibility and pH-sensitive release, when using calcium carbonate-which dissociates into Ca 2+ and CO 3 2− ions in acidic pH [159].…”

The Opportunities and Challenges of Silica Nanomaterial for Atherosclerosis

“…Although mesoporous silica has a high drug loading rate and can control the release rate of drug, the liver, kidney and other organs will non-specifically take the drug and cause systemic toxicity before the released drug reaches the target site. Therefore, researchers employ activatable functionalization concept to address this issue and mesoporous silica with the ability of stimuli-responsive drug release such as pH-responsive, [52][53][54][55] temperature-responsive, 56 redox-responsive, [57][58][59][60] enzymeresponsive, 61,62 magnetic-responsive, [63][64][65] and jointstimulus-responsive 66,67 have been well developed. However, it should be mentioned that up to now, most of them were all designed for the diagnosis and treatment of tumor.…”