화학공학소재연구정보센터
홈 로그인 로그아웃 연락처 사이트맵
Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, Vol.104, 93-105, December, 2021
DOI10.1016/j.jiec.2021.08.012  Export Citation
In vitro study of doxorubicin-loaded thermo- and pH-tunable carriers for targeted drug delivery to liver cancer cells
Sikhumbuzo Charles Kunene, Kuen-Song Lin†, Meng-Tzu Weng1, †, Maria Janina Carrera Espinoza, and Chun-Ming Wu2
  • Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Yuan Ze University, Chung–Li District, Taoyuan City 32003, Taiwan
  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 10233, Taiwan
  • 2National Synchrotron Radiation Research Center, Hsinchu Science Park, Hsinchu, 30076, Taiwan
E-mail:,
In this study, a series of thermo- and pH-dependent doxorubicin (DOX) carriers based on magnetic graphene nanosheets (MGNSs), functionalized by poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and polyethylenemine (PEI) nanogel, targeting liver cancer cells were formulated. The temperature phase transitions of the carriers can be tuned as a function of pH to the intended value in the range of 38-42 °C. In vitro studies showed a high cell viability of above 90% at all doses of MGNSs and MGNS-nanogel against HEK293T normal and HepG2 cancerous cells, confirming the biocompatibility and nontoxicity of the carriers. In comparison, the MGNS-nanogel-DOX demonstrated a sufficient therapeutic effect towards HepG2 cell line. The cell viability results showed enhanced efficacy of the drug released by means of applied magnetic field (AMF). Moreover, an efficient cellular intake of the carriers into the HepG2 cells was achieved. Additionally, the achieved low DOX release at a lower temperature and neutral pH can retain the drug in the carriers until reaching the targeted sites. Nevertheless, the high drug release showed that the release was triggered by high temperature and acidic pH. Hence, the developed thermo- and pHtunable MGNS-nanogel-DOX showed a high potential for microenvironment stimulus-prompted drug delivery and cancer cell suppression.
Keywords:Magnetic graphene nanosheet;Stimulus-dependent;Thermo- and pH-dependent carrier;Doxorubicin;Nanogel
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