Fluorescence and drug loading properties of ZnSe:Mn/ZnS-Paclitaxel/SiO2 nanocapsules templated by F127 micelles

Hydrophobic ZnSe:Mn/ZnS core-shell fluorescence quantum dots (QDs) and anticancer drug paclitaxel (PTX) have been co-loaded into folate conjugated hybrid silica nanocapsules via F127 micelles based soft-template method in a mild aqueous environment at room temperature . The encapsulation of QDs shows a F127: QDs mass ratio dependent behavior, which impact much on the morphology and optical properties of composite nanocapsules . These as prepared composite nanocapsules also exhibit good photoluminescence stability under the temperature ranges from 19   °C to 49   °C. In addition, the aqueous solubility of PTX (0.1   μg/mL) can be efficiently enhanced about 630 times to 62.99   μg/mL, and the loaded PTX could be released during 12   h sustainably. These tunable fluorescence, enhanced drug loading efficiency and sustained release behavior manifest that the hybrid nanocapsule is a promising theranostic nanoplatform for future combined fluorescence imaging and chemotherapy.