DOX-Cu9S5@mSiO2-PG composite fibers for orthotopic synergistic chemo- and photothermal tumor therapy

Abstract

A composite antitumor drug carrier platform, in which antitumor drug doxorubicin (DOX) loaded core–shell structured Cu₉S₅@mSiO₂ nanoparticles were incorporated into poly(ε-caprolactone) and gelatin to form nanofibrous fabrics using an electrospinning process, was successfully assembled. The resultant multifunctional spun pieces could be implanted directly to the tumor site of mice using surgical procedures to achieve the orthotopic synergistic therapy combining the chemotherapy of the controlled release of DOX from mesoporous SiO₂ with the photothermal treatment through the performance of the photothermal transformation of Cu₉S₅ under 980 nm laser irradiation in vivo. The experimental results in vivo demonstrated that the synergistic chemotherapy/photothermal treatment of DOX loaded Cu₉S₅@mSiO₂ composite fibers under 980 nm laser irradiation has a more efficient tumor suppression effect, compared with a single chemotherapy of DOX loaded Cu₉S₅@mSiO₂ composite fibers without the 980 nm laser irradiation or a single photothermal treatment from Cu₉S₅@mSiO₂ composite fibers under 980 nm laser irradiation.