Rapid preparation of hyperbranched β-CD functionalized hydroxyapatite based on host-guest reaction for cell imaging and drug delivery

Improving the biocompatibility and water dispersibility of hydroxyapatite (HAP) is an effective way to expand its application in biomedicine. Here, we present a nanosystem (HAP-β-CD-HPG) that constructed by riboflavin sodium phosphate (HE) functionalized hydroxyapatite (HAP) and hyperbranched β-cyclodextrin (β-CD-HPG) through a simple, mild and rapid approach. Firstly, the successful construction of HAP-β-CD-HPG nanosystem was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and so on. Next, Doxorubicin (DOX) was loaded onto HAP-β-CD-HPG with a high encapsulation potency (60.3%) and further used for the simultaneously cell-imaging and controlled release of the cytotoxic drug DOX. Furthermore, the pH-triggered DOX release process in A549 cancer cells can be visualized dynamically by tracking the fluorescence of HAP-β-CD-HPG and DOX. This work both provides a new protocol for the construction of dual-function nanosystem for imaging of cell cytoplasm and drug delivery via a simple approach and promotes a potential application of this diagnosis-therapy integrated system for cancer treatment in the future. • Nanosystem (HAP-β-CD-HPG) is prepared by the fast and mild preparation process of host-guest reaction between β-CD-HPG (host) and HAP-AD (guest). • Nanosystem (HAP-β-CD-HPG) exhibits good biocompatibility and water dispersibility, and shows dual-functions of cell imaging and drug delivery. • HAP-β-CD-HPG can be used for pH-responsive drug release, resulting drug accumulation in tumor cells in vitro and in vivo .