Molecular dynamics investigation on synthesis of a pH- and temperature-sensitive carbon nanotube loaded with doxorubicin

Qijiang Shu; Pengru Huang; Zhi Dong; Wenping Wang

doi:10.1016/j.isci.2024.108812

Molecular dynamics investigation on synthesis of a pH- and temperature-sensitive carbon nanotube loaded with doxorubicin

iScience. 2024 Jan 5;27(2):108812. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.108812. eCollection 2024 Feb 16.

Authors

Qijiang Shu^{1

2

3}, Pengru Huang⁴, Zhi Dong⁵, Wenping Wang⁵

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Information, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China.
² Yunnan Key Laboratory of Southern Medicinal Utilization, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China.
³ Yunnan Traditional Chinese Medicine Prevention and Treatment Engineering Research Center, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China.
⁴ Guangxi Key Laboratory of Information Materials and Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center of Structure and Property for New Energy and Materials, School of Material Science & Engineering, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, Guilin, Guangxi 541004, China.
⁵ College of Chinese Materia Medica, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, Yunnan 650500, China.

Abstract

The many exotic properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) make them a powerful attraction in the field of drug delivery systems (DDS). In this work, based on quantum chemical calculation and molecular simulation techniques, polyacrylic acid (PAA) and N-isopropyl acrylamide (NIP) are selected and acted simultaneously on the CNT to form a stable system (FCNT). As a potential DDS, FCNT captures the dispersed doxorubicin (DOX) molecules around it and maintains a stable configuration. In these processes, electrostatic and van der Waals forces act synergistically, with van der Waals forces dominating. Compared to NIP, PAA molecules exhibit stronger adhesion and encapsulation efficiency to CNT and stronger adsorption capacity to DOX. This study reveals the mechanism of action among PAA, NIP, CNT, and DOX, providing feasibility verification and prospective guidance for the experimental synthesis of PAA-NIP-CNT-type multifunctional DDS, and also broadening the idea for exploring more efficient DDS suitable for DOX.

Keywords: Biological sciences; Molecular biology.