1. pH-responsive charge-reversal polymer-functionalized boron nitride nanospheres for intracellular doxorubicin delivery
- Author
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Feng,Shini, Zhang,Huijie, Zhi,Chunyi, Gao,Xiao-Dong, Nakanishi,Hideki, Feng,Shini, Zhang,Huijie, Zhi,Chunyi, Gao,Xiao-Dong, and Nakanishi,Hideki
- Abstract
Shini Feng,1 Huijie Zhang,2 Chunyi Zhi,3 Xiao-Dong Gao,1 Hideki Nakanishi1 1Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, People’s Republic of China; 2School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Physics and Materials Science, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China Background: Anticancer drug-delivery systems (DDSs) capable of responding to the physiological stimuli and efficiently releasing drugs inside tumor cells are highly desirable for effective cancer therapy. Herein, pH-responsive, charge-reversal poly(allylamine hydrochlorid)-citraconic anhydride (PAH-cit) functionalized boron nitride nanospheres (BNNS) were fabricated and used as a carrier for the delivery and controlled release of doxorubicin (DOX) into cancer cells.Methods: BNNS was synthesized through a chemical vapor deposition method and then functionalized with synthesized charge-reversal PAH-cit polymer. DOX@PAH-cit–BNNS complexes were prepared via step-by-step electrostatic interactions and were fully characterized. The cellular uptake of DOX@PAH-cit–BNNS complexes and DOX release inside cancer cells were visualized by confocal laser scanning microscopy. The in vitro anticancer activity of DOX@PAH-cit–BNNS was examined using CCK-8 and live/dead viability/cytotoxicity assay. Results: The PAH-cit–BNNS complexes were nontoxic to normal and cancer cells up to a concentration of 100 µg/mL. DOX was loaded on PAH-cit–BNNS complexes with high efficiency. In a neutral environment, the DOX@PAH-cit–BNNS was stable, whereas the loaded DOX was effectively released from these complexes at low pH condition due to amide hydrolysis of PAH-cit. Enhanced cellular uptake of DOX@PAH-cit–BNNS complexes and DOX release in the
- Published
- 2018