Lactobionic acid-functionalized hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles for cancer chemotherapy and phototherapy

The combination of chemotherapy and phototherapy has become a promising cancer treatment strategy. In this study, a pH/NIR dual-responsive hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles (HMSNs) based nanocarrier for co-delivering doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) and indocyanine green (ICG) was developed. DOX was loaded for chemotherapy and ICG for photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT). This system targets the asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR) in over-expressing human hepatocellular liver carcinoma cells (HepG2) by linking HMSNs and lactobionic acid (LA)-modified dialdehyde chitosan (DACS) via Schiff base bonds. It is demonstrated that HMSNs-DACS-LA have been successfully prepared through various physical characterizations. Drug release tests revealed that it had the characteristics of properties of pH/NIR dual-responsive. In vitro cellular uptake and cytotoxicity assay showed that ID@HMSNs-DACS-LA could target HepG2 cells and reduced the activity of tumor cells. Therefore, co-delivery of ICG and DOX via HMSNs-DACS-LA nanocarriers may provide a feasible strategy for tumor-targeted combined chemotherapy and phototherapy. Preparation of ID@HCL with dual-responsive and targeting function can be used for chemotherapy and phototherapy of tumor cells • A dual-responsive Hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles was designed. • Combination therapy could enhance the anti-tumor effect significantly. • Lactobionic acid could improve nanoparticle ability to target tumor cells.