LAUSR

Abstract Fe(III) loaded porous silica nanoparticles have great value for establishing anticancer drug delivery system. In this study, host-metal-guest carrier named as MM–SN–NH2-Fe was obtained by grafting aminopropyl and Fe(III) onto macro-mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MM-SN). Doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) has been chosen as a model anticancer drug and the NH2–Fe-DOX coordination bond structure has been constructed on the pore surface using the iron necessary for the organism. The release performance of DOX loaded MM–SN–NH2-Fe showed higher pH response release by cleavage of the Fe-DOX bond or the NH2–Fe coordination bond. Cytotoxicity assay indicated that DOX loaded MM–SN–NH2-Fe presented stronger anti-cancer activity against MCF-7 and MCF-7/ADR cells compared to that of free DOX and DOX loaded MM-SN. In vivo, DOX based nanoparticles significantly prolonged systemic circulation and DOX loaded MM–SN–NH2-Fe presented the best antitumor effect. As expected, we developed a novel carrier with pH-triggered release and high anti-cancer activity for DOX delivery system, which has great value in anticancer treatment.