Optical Properties of Doxorubicin Hydrochloride Load and Release on Silica Nanoparticle Platform

• Main Authors: Trong Nghia Nguyen, Thi Thuy Nguyen, Thi Ha Lien Nghiem, Duc Toan Nguyen, Thi Thu Ha Tran, Duong Vu, Thi Bich Ngoc Nguyen, Thi Minh Huyen Nguyen, Van Tien Nguyen, Minh Hue Nguyen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2021-06-01
• Series: Molecules
• Subjects: silica nanoparticles (SiO₂ NPs); doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX·HCl); drug delivery
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/26/13/3968

Silica nanoparticles (SiO₂ NPs) synthesized by the Stober method were used as drug delivery vehicles. Doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX·HCl) is a chemo-drug absorbed onto the SiO₂ NPs surfaces. The DOX·HCl loading onto and release from the SiO₂ NPs was monitored via UV-VIS and fluorescence spectra. Alternatively, the zeta potential was also used to monitor and evaluate the DOX·HCl loading process. The results showed that nearly 98% of DOX·HCl was effectively loaded onto the SiO₂ NPs’ surfaces by electrostatic interaction. The pH-dependence of the process wherein DOX·HCl release out of DOX·HCl-SiO₂ NPs was investigated as well. For comparison, both the free DOX·HCl molecules and DOX·HCl-SiO₂ NPs were used as the labels for cultured cancer cells. Confocal laser scanning microscopy images showed that the DOX·HCl-SiO₂ NPs were better delivered to cancer cells which are more acidic than healthy cells. We propose that engineered DOX·HCl-SiO₂ systems are good candidates for drug delivery and clinical applications.