Optical Properties of Doxorubicin Hydrochloride Load and Release on Silica Nanoparticle Platform

Molecules. 2021 Jun 29;26(13):3968. doi: 10.3390/molecules26133968.

Abstract

Silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs) synthesized by the Stober method were used as drug delivery vehicles. Doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX·HCl) is a chemo-drug absorbed onto the SiO2 NPs surfaces. The DOX·HCl loading onto and release from the SiO2 NPs was monitored via UV-VIS and fluorescence spectra. Alternatively, the zeta potential was also used to monitor and evaluate the DOX·HCl loading process. The results showed that nearly 98% of DOX·HCl was effectively loaded onto the SiO2 NPs' surfaces by electrostatic interaction. The pH-dependence of the process wherein DOX·HCl release out of DOX·HCl-SiO2 NPs was investigated as well. For comparison, both the free DOX·HCl molecules and DOX·HCl-SiO2 NPs were used as the labels for cultured cancer cells. Confocal laser scanning microscopy images showed that the DOX·HCl-SiO2 NPs were better delivered to cancer cells which are more acidic than healthy cells. We propose that engineered DOX·HCl-SiO2 systems are good candidates for drug delivery and clinical applications.

Keywords: doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX·HCl); drug delivery; silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs).

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents* / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / pharmacokinetics
  • Antineoplastic Agents* / pharmacology
  • Doxorubicin* / chemistry
  • Doxorubicin* / pharmacokinetics
  • Doxorubicin* / pharmacology
  • Drug Carriers* / chemistry
  • Drug Carriers* / pharmacokinetics
  • Drug Carriers* / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Nanoparticles* / chemistry
  • Nanoparticles* / therapeutic use
  • Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms* / metabolism
  • Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Silicon Dioxide* / chemistry
  • Silicon Dioxide* / pharmacokinetics
  • Silicon Dioxide* / pharmacology

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Drug Carriers
  • Silicon Dioxide
  • Doxorubicin