Azo-functionalized Fe3O4 nanoparticles: a near-infrared light triggered drug delivery system for combined therapy of cancer with low toxicity. Issue 21 (3rd May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chen, Ling; Wu, Lin; Liu, Fei; Qi, Xueyong; Ge, Yanru; Shen, Song
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials chemistry. Volume 4:Issue 21(2016)
• Page Start: 3660
• Page End: 3669
• Publication Date: 2016-05-03
• Subjects: Materials -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Analytic -- Periodicals; Biomedical materials -- Research -- Periodicals; 543.0284
• DOI: 10.1039/c5tb02704g
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-750X

Abstract

Abstract : A smart drug delivery system based on thermo-sensitive molecule was designed. When exposed to near infrared (NIR) light, Fe3 O4 nanoparticles transfer the light to heat rapidly, leading to the cleavage of the Azo linker and the release of DOX. Abstract : To improve the therapeutic effect and decrease the toxicity in normal tissues, stimuli-responsive drug delivery systems have attracted extensive attention in tumor therapy. In this work, we present a smart drug delivery system based on the stimulated decomposition of a thermo-sensitive molecule, azobis[ N -(2-carboxyethyl)-2-methylpropionamidine] (Azo), for the combined photothermal therapy and chemotherapy. Doxorubicin (DOX) was attached to the surface of magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) via the Azo linker. Upon irradiation with near infrared (NIR) light, local heating is generated by iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs), which triggers the decomposition of the Azo molecule and the release of DOX. Compared with Fe3 O4 –DOX NPs, Fe3 O4 –Azo–DOX NPs demonstrate dominant advantages of stability, which results in the low toxicity of Fe3 O4 –Azo–DOX NPs in cardiac tissues. Fe3 O4 –Azo NPs display excellent photothermal effects under NIR laser irradiation and extremely low cytotoxicity towards MCF-7 cells. Furthermore, the Fe3 O4 –Azo–DOX NP system exhibits significantly enhanced cell killing effects upon irradiation with NIR, attributed to the synergistic therapeutic efficacy of photothermal chemotherapy.