| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32197 | Nano Today | 2012 | 9 Pages |
SummaryBi-segmental Au/Ni nanorods immobilized with doxorubicin and folate in a spatially controlled manner were fabricated for potential nanomedicine applications. Template-based electrodeposition was used to fabricate the multi-segmented rod-shaped nanostructures 100 nm in diameter and 1–2 μm in length. Thiolated Pluronic was immobilized on the gold surface to take advantage of its sol–gel transition to enhance the entrapment of doxorubicin on the nanorods. The ratio of doxorubicin to folate can be precisely controlled by varying the length of their respective segments. Doxorubicin-incorporated nanorods showed reversible release-association behavior of doxorubicin according to temperature change, and the degree of thermo-responsiveness was dependent on the length of the gold segments. A549 cells incubated with the doxorubicin nanorods at 4 °C for 2 h showed increased localization of doxorubicin in the cytoplasm compared to non-treated groups; higher potency was also observed compared to doxorubicin-treated or non-treated groups. Folate targeting effect was demonstrated in the significantly increased endocytic uptake of nanorods by the folate receptor overexpressing KB cells. The versatility of fabricating these multi-segmented nanorods by electrodeposition may open up interesting possibilities of designing multi-functional nanocarriers for diverse drug delivery applications.
Graphical abstractReversible incorporation of doxorubicin in metallic nanorods with thermo-responsiveness.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload high-quality image (143 K)Download as PowerPoint slideHighlights► We fabricated bi-segmented metallic nanorods for anti-cancer therapy. ► Thermo-responsive polymers were tethered to the nanorods for non-chemical encapsulation of doxorubicin. ► Alternating temperatures significantly changed drug incorporation, cytosolic localization, and anti-cancer efficacy of doxorubicin-incorporated nanorods.
