Magnetic/pH dual-responsive nanocomposites loading doxorubicin hydrochloride for cancer therapy

Development of stimuli-responsive nanocomposites for the delivery anticancer drug has attracted considerable attention. A magnetic/pH dual-responsive nanocomposite was synthesised by amide condensation reaction and developed for cancer therapy. The PEGylated citric-coated Fe 3 O 4 (PCI)–graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposites was constructed by a three-step process. Fe 3 O 4 magnetic nanoparticles were firstly coated with citric acid, and then covalently linked to aminated polyethylene glycol (NH 2 –PEG–NH 2 ); lastly, the PCI was covalently conjugated to graphite oxide to obtain PCI–GO nanocomposites. The PCI–GO nanocomposites were characterised by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform-infrared, ultraviolet–visible, and thermogravimetry. The magnetic of nanocomposites was confirmed by a vibrating sample magnetometer. Due to the hydrogen bond, π – π stacking and electrostatic interaction between the doxorubicin (DOX) hydrochloride and PCI–GO nanocomposites, the PCI–GO nanocomposites could load DOX effectively and with a high drug loading content (about 87.6%). The DOX-loaded PCI–GO (DOX/PCI–GO) nanocomposites exhibited pH-responsive release behaviour. The DOX/PCI–GO nanocomposites could effectively inhibit tumour growth in vitro, which was comparable to the antitumour effect of free DOX. The result indicates that the PCI–GO nanocomposites exhibit great potential for a magnetic targeted drug delivery system in multimodal and synergistic cancer therapy.