A biocompatible nanoplatform formed by MgAl-layered double hydroxide modified Mn3O4/N-graphene quantum dot conjugated-polyaniline for pH-triggered release of doxorubicin

In this work, for the first time, a novel pH-sensitive biocompatible multifunctional nanocarrier was fabricated by the combination of MgAl-layered double hydroxide, Mn3O4 nanoparticles, N-graphene quantum dot and polyaniline (PANI/N-GQD/MO/LDH) for doxorubicin (DOX) delivery in breast cancer cells. Electrochemical techniques, including cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), were employed for proving the surface modification process. The integration of polyaniline on the surface of the nanocarrier provides ultrahigh DOX encapsulation up to 90% and possesses a slow-release behavior (4% after 72 h) under normal physiological conditions. However, releasing similar to 80% of the drug in a low-pH environment as a model of the extracellular tumor environment happened, presenting a pH-triggered release. The cell viability using MTT assay reveals that the DOX/PANI/N-GQD/MO/LDH had no apparent adverse effect on the viability of human L929 normal cells. Furthermore, a significant inhibition ratio against human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7) was observed when the cells were treated with the DOX-loaded PANI/N-GQD/MO/LDH nanocarrier, suggesting that this nanocarrier could increase the therapeutic efficacy of DOX. The hemolysis rates (HRs) of human fresh blood, coagulation prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), and complement activation (C3 and C4 levels) revealed the excellent blood compatibility of the nanocarrier. Thus, the nano-vehicle designed in this study could be used as a novel multifunctional and synergistic, pH-triggered platform for delivering various anti-cancer drugs and other biomedical applications.