Enhanced cell uptake of fluorescent drug-loaded nanoparticles via an implantable photothermal fibrous patch for more effective cancer cell killing

Abstract

Great efforts have been devoted to effective delivery of therapeutics into cells for cancer therapy. The exploration of nanoparticle based drug delivery systems (DDSs) faces daunting challenges due to the low efficacy of intracellular delivery. Herein, a localized drug delivery device consisting of photoluminescent mesoporous silica nanoparticles (PLMSNs) and a photothermal fibrous matrix was investigated. Specifically, PLMSNs modified with a pH-sensitive polydopamine (PDA) ‘gatekeeper’ served as a doxorubicin (DOX) carrier and could release DOX once the PLMSNs were taken up by the cancer cells. The PLMSNs were electrostatically assembled on the surface of an electrospun biodegradable poly(ε-caprolactone)/gelatin fibrous mesh incorporated with photothermal carbon nanoparticles (CNPs), leading to an implantable patch used as a localized delivery platform. Compared to free particulate DDSs, this implantable composite patch device was found to significantly enable a superior cell uptake effect and consequently enhance in vitro therapeutic efficacy against tumor cells. Namely, under near infrared irradiation, the photothermal effect of CNPs in the implantable patch weakens the electrostatic interaction between the PLMSNs and the poly(ε-caprolactone)/gelatin/CNP fibrous mesh, resulting in the controlled release of the PLMSNs and subsequent internalization into the tumor cells for more effective cancer cell killing. This implantable therapeutic device may therefore inspire other means of developing localized cancer therapy.