Multistimuli-Responsive Drug Vehicles Based on Gold Nanoflowers for Chemophotothermal Synergistic Cancer Therapy

AIM: To design and synthesize a novel multistimuli-responsive drug vehicle based on gold nanoflowers (AuNFs) for chemophotothermal synergistic cancer therapy. MATERIALS & METHODS: Multistimuli-responsive drug-delivery system based on doxorubicin (DOX)/polydopamine (PDA)-functionalized AuNFs (Lan-AuNFs@PDA/DOX) was prepared. The structural characteristics, photothermal properties and stimuli-responsive drug release properties of Lan-AuNFs@PDA/DOX were evaluated. Antitumor studies in vivo and in vitro were performed. RESULTS: Lan-AuNFs@PDA/DOX exhibited uniform morphology, excellent biocompatibility and photothermal conversion efficiency, which could also respond to stimulus including near infrared light and pH to trigger on demand drug release. The excellent synergistic therapeutic efficacy was confirmed both in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSION: Lan-AuNFs@PDA/DOX would be a promising drug carrier, endowing a great potential for multistimuli-responsive chemophotothermal synergistic cancer therapy.