Redox-responsive peg-heparin end-capped mesoporous silica nanoparticles for controlled drug release

Abstract

A novel redox responsive system was fabricated with Heparin-PEG as an end-capping agent to seal the entrance channel of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) via disulfide bonds as a drug release switcher for trigger drug delivery. The MSNs were prepared by sol-gel method had average particle size around 50 nm, which was desired size-range for drug nanocarrier. The characteristic resulted by transmission electron microscope (TEM), nitrogen absorption (BET), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) measurements also showed that Heparin-PEG end-capped was successfully grafted onto the surface of the MSNs. Moreover, MSNs performed good candidate for loading behavior by simple mixing with model drug rhodamine B (RhB). The nanoparticles endocytosed by the cancer cells could release loaded drug into the cells triggered by redox endosomal. The unique redox responsive system for dithiothreitol (DTT) triggered controlled release was preformed based on the dissociation of disulfide linkage. The in vitro cell assays assay revealed that MSNs were comparatively safe for drug delivery and the DOX loaded nanoparticles showed remarkable cytotoxicity to HeLa cells (human cervical adenocarcinoma cells). These MSNs synthesized can be used as an effective drug controlled release system for biomedical applications, especially for long- term drug delivery. Keywords: Mesoporous silica nanoparticles, redox responsive, heparin, PEG.