ZnO QD covalently coated, GSH/pH dual-responsive drug delivery system for chemotherapeutic/ionic synergistic therapy

Chemotherapeutical agents have been frequently reported to have adverse side effects which reduce their application in clinic. Herein, we reported a mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs)-based drug delivery system (DDS) capped with zinc oxide quantum dots (ZnO QD) which has glutathione (GSH)/pH dual-responsive controlled release in the cancer cells. The drug loaded DDS have higher cellular inhibition than the free drug because of the synergistic effect of payload DNM and the Zn2+ dissolved from ZnO QD. The anti-cancer mechanism research indicates that the designed drug loaded DDS can cause mitochondrial damage, arrest the cell cycle and induce the cell apoptosis and autophagy. The combination of excellent biocompatibility, selective release performance, synergistic cellular cytotoxicity, endowed the DDS with the potential of utilization in cancer treatment.

Automated summary

The drug delivery system developed in this study, based on mesoporous silica nanoparticles capped with zinc oxide quantum dots, demonstrates controlled release in cancer cells with GSH/pH dual responsiveness. The DDS shows higher cellular inhibition than free drugs due to the synergistic effect of the drug payload and Zn2+ released from ZnO QD. The mechanism of action research suggests that the DDS can induce mitochondrial damage, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and autophagy in cancer cells, making it a promising candidate for cancer treatment.