Folate-targeted single-wall metal-organic nanotubes used as multifunctional drug carriers

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a member of the anthracycline class of chemotherapeutic agents that are used for the treatment of many common human cancers. A self-assembled functionalized metal-organic nanotubes, SWMONTs could be loaded with the anticancer drug DOX. Via the modification of SWMONTs, DOX/SWMONTs-SiO 2 , DOX/SWMONTs-SiO 2 -NH 2 , DOX/SWMONTs-SiO 2 -NH 2 -FA samples could be obtained. The SEM characterization of the samples indicated that the particle size of DOX/SWMONTs-SiO 2 NH 2 samples were smaller than 200 nm. Drug-release experiments implied that DOX from the DOX/SWMONTs-SiO 2 -NH 2 -FA samples could be released faster at acidic tumor tissue than at normal body fluid (pH7.4). DOX has strong cytotoxicity, and at 20 μg/mL dosage of DOX large amount of apoptotic cells could be seen. Cellular uptaking experiments were used to study the apoptotic mechanism, while for DOX/SWMONTs-SiO 2 -NH 2 -FA samples, the strong drug fluorescence was found in the cytoplasm rather than in the nucleus.