Folate-targeting magnetic core–shell nanocarriers for selective drug release and imaging

One of the most urgent medical requirements for cancer diagnosis and treatment is how to construct a multifunctional vesicle for simultaneous diagnostic imaging and therapeutic applications. In our study, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanocrystals (SPIONs) and doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) are co-encapsulated into PLGA/polymeric liposome core–shell nanocarriers for achieving simultaneous magnetic resonance imaging and targeting drug delivery. The core–shell nanocarrier was self-assembled from a hydrophobic PLGA core and a hydrophilic folate coated PEGlated lipid shell. The experiment showed that folate-targeting magnetic core–shell nanocarriers show clear core–shell structure, excellent magnetism and controlled drug release behavior. Importantly, the core–shell nanoparticles achieve the possibility of co-delivering drugs and SPIONs to the same cells for enhancing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) effect and improving drug delivery efficiency simultaneously. Our data suggests that the folate-targeting magnetic core–shell nanocarriers (FMNs) could provide effective cancer-targeting and MRI as well as drug delivery. The FMNs may become a useful nanomedical carrier system for cancer diagnosis and treatment.

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