Doxorubicin Loaded Silica Nanoparticles with Dual Modification as a Tumor-Targeted Drug Delivery System for Colon Cancer Therapy

In the following study, we describe the preparation and characterization of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and biotin modified, doxorubicin (DOX) loaded silica nanoparticles (Dox/SLN-PEG-Biotin), which was employed as a drug delivery system for colon cancer therapy. The DOX/SLN-PEG-Biotin exhibited small particle size and low cytotoxicity in vitro. Moreover, the Dox releases from DOX/SLN-PEG-Biotin followed a redox-sensitive behavior. Biotin functionalized Dox/SLN-PEG-Biotin demonstrated tumor-targeted delivery of their payload, resulting in enhanced cellular uptake in HCT116 tumor cells and potentiated tumor accumulation in HCT116 tumor-bearing mice. In particular, in vivo anti-cancer assay confirmed that DOX/SLN-PEG-Biotin as a tumor-targeted delivery system exerted strong anti-cancer efficacy. Altogether, DOX chemotherapy using DOX/SLN-PEG-Biotin might be an effective strategy for improved treatment in colon cancer.