Core–shell structured luminescent and mesoporous β-NaYF4:Ce3+/Tb3+@mSiO2-PEG nanospheres for anti-cancer drug delivery

Abstract

Multifunctional nanocomposites integrating mesoporous and luminescence properties into a single entity are synthesized via a facile and effective approach. Oleic acid capped β-NaYF4:Ce(3+)/Tb(3+) nanoparticles (NPs) are transferred into aqueous solution by cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) surfactants, and further encapsulated with uniform mesoporous silica shell followed by the surface modification with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), leading to the formation of water-dispersible and biocompatible core-shell structured β-NaYF4:Ce(3+)/Tb(3+)@mSiO2-PEG (denoted as NPs@mSiO2-PEG) nanospheres. The as-synthesized nanospheres show a typical mesoporous structure and a green emission under UV irradiation. Doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX), a widely used anti-cancer drug, is used as a model drug to evaluate the loading and controlled release behaviors of the NPs@mSiO2-PEG in phosphoric acidic buffer solutions (PBS) at different pH values (pH = 7.4 and 5.0). The composite carriers provide a pH-sensitive drug release pattern and the drug releases faster under lower pH value. The endocytosis process of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labelled nanospheres is characterized using flow cytometry and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) against A549 cells. The in vitro cytotoxic effect against A549 cells of the DOX-loaded carriers is investigated in detail. In addition, the extent of drug release can be monitored by the variation of photoluminescence (PL) intensity of β-NaYF4:Ce(3+)/Tb(3+). Considering the good biocompatibility and pH-dependent drug release pattern, such core-shell structured luminescent NPs@mSiO2-PEG nanospheres have potential applications in controlled drug delivery.

pH‐Responsive Drug‐Delivery Systems

“…In addition, the hemoglobin loading capacity of the as-prepared hybrid nanoparticles was high (995 mg g À1 ). Wu et al [106] reported multifunctional nanocomposites that integrated a mesoporous structure and luminescent properties into a single system. Oleic acid-capped bNaYF 4 :Ce 3 + /Tb 3 + nanoparticles were encapsulated with a uniform mesoporous silica shell followed by surface modification with poly(ethylene glycol), which led to the formation of water-dispersible core-shell structured b-NaYF 4 :Ce 3 + /Tb 3 + @mSiO 2 -PEG nanospheres that exhibited a pH-sensitive drug release pattern for DOX·HCl, and the drug release was faster at lower pH values.…”

Drug Delivery Systems for Phthalocyanines for Photodynamic Therapy

“…Low systemic toxicity and cytotoxicity and negligible solubility in aqueous media make these materials suitable for medical applications. Their use for advanced drug delivery systems in anticancer treatment (190,191) and advanced photodynamic therapy is very promising (178,192). To achieve biocompatibility and water dispersibility, they are commonly subjected to surface modification with silica, porous silica, biocompatible polymers or hydrophilic functional groups (193).…”

Composite silica coated gold nanosphere and quantum dots nanoparticles for X-ray CT and fluorescence bimodal imaging

“…Other researchers have covered nanoparticles with polymers such as PEG 34,35 or PVP because of their good biocompatibility. 36,37 However, the viscosity and toxicity of the PEG modified probe were relatively higher.…”