LAUSR

Abstract A combination of chemo-photothermal therapy has recently emerged as a great potential cancer treatment due to enhanced therapeutic efficacy. Herein, we present a novel nanocomposite for chemo-photothermal synergistic therapy. The glutathione (GSH)-responsive mesoporous silica-coated copper sulfide (mesoporous CuS) nanocomposite was synthesized by co-condensation using tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and bis[3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl]tetrasulfide (BTES). Hyaluronic acid (HA) was functionalized on nanocarrier for drug leakage prevention, enzyme-triggered drug release and targeting moiety toward CD44 overexpressing cancer cells. The mesoporous CuS nanocomposite generated the heat for photothermal therapy in response to near-infrared (NIR) irradiation. The release of doxorubicin (Dox) from mesoporous CuS nanocomposite was controlled by dual-stimuli of response. We confirmed that mesoporous CuS nanocomposite was internalized to HeLa cells by CD44 receptor-mediated endocytosis and significantly enhanced anticancer effects due to the combination treatment. Therefore, we developed a tumor targeted dual-stimuli responsive drug delivery system for chemo-photothermal synergistic therapy.