pH and Glutathione Dual-Responsive Dynamic Cross-Linked Supramolecular Network on Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Controlled Anticancer Drug Release

A dynamic cross-linked supramolecular network of poly(glycidyl methacrylate)s derivative chains was constructed on mesoporous silica nanoparticles via disulfide bond and ion–dipole interactions between cucurbit[7]urils and protonated diamines in the polymer chains. This kind of multifunctional organic–inorganic hybrid material with pH- and glutathione- (GSH-) stimuli responsiveness can be applied to anticancer drug delivery and controlled release. Good release performance toward doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) was achieved under the simulative tumor intracellular environment (pH = 5.0, CGSH = 2–10 mM). Significantly, the release amount of DOX increased upon lowering the solution pH value and increasing the concentration of GSH, as demonstrated by a series of controlled release experiments. Furthermore, the DOX-loaded hybrid nanomaterials displayed apparent cell-growth inhibition effects to cancer cell lines, as evidenced by MTT assay and confocal laser scanning microscopy.