Yolk–shell hybrid nanoparticles with magnetic and pH-sensitive properties for controlled anticancer drug delivery

Abstract

A facile and effective way for the preparation of nano-sized Fe₃O₄@graphene yolk–shell nanoparticles via a hydrothermal method is developed. Moreover, the targeting properties of the materials for anticancer drug (doxorubicin hydrochloride) delivery are investigated. Excitingly, these hybrid materials possess favorable dispersibility, good superparamagnetism (the magnetic saturation value is 45.740 emu g⁻¹), high saturated loading capacity (2.65 mg mg⁻¹), and effective loading (88.3%). More importantly, the composites exhibit strong pH-triggered drug release response (at the pH value of 5.6 and 7.4, the release rate was 24.86% and 10.28%, respectively) and good biocompatibility over a broad concentration range of 0.25–100 μg mL⁻¹ (the cell viability was 98.52% even at a high concentration of 100 μg mL⁻¹) which sheds light on their potentially bright future for bio-related applications.