The Fe3O4@PPy-HA-beta-CD nanocomposites as the novel nanocarrier were prepared by grafting ethylenediamine derivative of beta-CD to the surface of polypyrrole-coated magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4@PPy) via using hyaluronan (HA) as the intermediate linker. HA was also the efficient target ligand for CD44. The as-prepared drug carrier was characterized by TEM, TGA, XRD, and VSM and used for the delivery of doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) with the high loading content of 447 mg/g. The multilayer Freundlich isotherm model was found to be a good fit for the loading of the drug carrier for DOX. Significant NIR-triggered release of DOX was observed in a weak acidic pH. And the release data in vitro was well described using the Retiger-Pepper kinetic model. Furthermore, MTT assay and confocal microscopy against Hep-G2 cells clearly illustrated that the drug carrier had no associated cytotoxicity and could easily enter the cells. The release and accumulation of DOX were observed in the cell nuclei. Thus, the DOX-loaded drug carrier killed the cancer cells efficaciously and minimized adverse side effects due to its target effect. These results suggested the as-prepared drug carrier would be of great potential for the controlled release and targeted delivery of DOX. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.