DNA-capped Fe3O4/SiO2 magnetic mesoporous silica nanoparticles for potential controlled drug release and hyperthermia

We proposed a strategy to construct DNA-capped Fe3O4/SiO2 magnetic mesoporous silica (MMS) nanoparticles for potential temperature controlled drug release and magnetic hyperthermia. Drug release behavior, magnetic heating capacity, in vitro cytotoxicity, and cell uptake of the MMS-based nanocarriers were evaluated. The results showed that the DOX/MMS-NH2-dsDNA complexes could release DOX fast at 50 degrees C, but very slow at 37 degrees C. Also, MMS-based nanocarriers could efficiently generate heat upon exposure to an alternating magnetic field due to the superparamagnetic behavior. Furthermore, the MMS-NH2-dsDNA complexes could be effectively taken up by murine breast cancer 4T1 cells, and negligible cytotoxicity of the MMS-NH2-dsDNA complexes has been observed. Therefore, DNA-capped MMS nanoparticles had potential for cancer therapy with temperature controlled drug release and magnetic hyperthermia.