Synthesis of stable calcium carbonate nanoparticles for pH-responsive controlled drug release

The construction of controlled release for drugs is a promising strategy in disease treatment, which can improve the bioavailability of utilized drugs and reduce the side effects. Herein, a simple and green strategy was developed to prepare stable amorphous calcium carbonate (ACC) using polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) as stabilizer. The crystallization behavior of ACC nanoparticles in methanol–water system and the effect of PVP content on ACC was investigated. Most importantly, the obtained ACC-PVP exhibited high drug loading efficiency and pH responsive release properties for anticancer drugs 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) and curcumin (CUR) in phosphate buffer solution and simulated gastric juice. All evidences demonstrate that smart mesoporous ACC-PVP nanoparticles provide a potential clinical application platform for cancer therapy.