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Folate‐Conjugated Polylactic Acid–Silica Hybrid Nanoparticles as Degradable Carriers for Targeted Drug Delivery, On‐Demand Release and Simultaneous Self‐Clearance
Author(s) -
Ma Zhifang,
Li Xiaolei,
Jia Xiaodan,
Bai Jing,
Jiang Xiue
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
chempluschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.801
H-Index - 61
ISSN - 2192-6506
DOI - 10.1002/cplu.201600100
Subject(s) - polylactic acid , conjugated system , drug delivery , drug carrier , nanoparticle , targeted drug delivery , nanotechnology , on demand , drug , chemistry , materials science , combinatorial chemistry , organic chemistry , polymer , business , pharmacology , medicine , commerce
Improving the therapeutic efficacy of cancer chemotherapy and reducing the side effects in patients are appealing goals but represent critical challenges. In this work, a novel SiO 2 ‐based nanocarrier coated with polylactic acid and folate has been fabricated to destroy tumors in vivo. Folic acid promotes the targeted intracellular delivery of drug molecules to cancer cells overexpressing the folate receptor for improving the efficacy of the therapy. The polylactic acid layer prevents the premature leakage of drug until the polylactic acid is degraded as a response to low pH and enzymes; this mechanism is designed for sustained and on‐demand drug release to prevent undesired side effects. Escape of the drug molecules then triggers decomposition of the SiO 2 carrier, improving its elimination from the patient. The strategy of combining the engineering flexibility of inorganic nanocarriers with the stimuli‐responsive biodegradability of organic molecules will offer new directions in on‐demand and sustained drug release for chemotherapy.