Combination of photodynamic therapy and chemotherapeutic drugs is a promising strategy to achieve enhanced anticancer effect. In this study, a novel reactive oxygen species (ROS) synergistic pH/H2O2-responsive nanocomposite has been prepared from the self-assembly of poly(l-lactic acid)-block-poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) in aqueous solution, followed by addition of ferric citrate (Cit-Fe(III)) through electrostatic interaction and growing ZIF-8 among the surface of the particles. Upon H2O2 and visible light stimuli, efficient ROS such as hydroxyl radicals (•OH) and sulfate radicals (SO4•-) can be generated through the catalyst of Cit-Fe(III). Meanwhile, sulfonate-containing polymeric vesicles are disassembled through oxidization by ROS, and the encapsulated doxorubicin (DOX) will gradually diffuse into the ZIF-8 (one type of metal-organic framework, MOF) channels. The gatekeepers, ZIF-8, will collapse only under low pH condition, and a burst drug release is achieved. In the presence of H2O2 and pH stimuli upon visible light exposure, the prepared DOX-loaded nanocomposite exhibits good selectivity for both generating ROS and releasing drug in tumor cell instead of normal cell. The merits of nanocomposites such as good biocompatibility and especially the synergistic effect of chemo-photodynamic therapy make the material a highly promising candidate for drug delivery system in chemo-photodynamic therapy.
Keywords: ferric citrate; metal−organic framework; nanocomposite biomaterial; reactive oxygen species; stimuli-responsive release.