Folate and iron difunctionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes as dual-targeted drug nanocarrier to cancer cells

A nanomaterial, folate and iron difunctionalized multiwall carbon nanotube (FA-MWCNT@Fe), has been synthesized by conjugating folate and iron nanoparticles with oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes, and applied as a dual-targeted drug nanocarrier to deliver doxorubicin into HeLa cells with the assistance of an external magnetic field. The prepared FA-MWCNT@Fe was characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy. This nanocarrier has a sufficient load capacity (doxorubicin/FA-MWCNT@Fe, 32 μg/mg) and a prolonged release property controlled by near infrared radiation. It also demonstrated both biologically (active) and magnetically (passive) targeting capabilities toward HeLa cells in vitro with ca. 6-fold higher delivery efficiency of doxorubicin than free doxorubicin.