Stimuli-responsive controlled release and molecular transport from hierarchical hollow silica/polyelectrolyte...

The smart designing of polymer hybrid carriers with a selective property will play a pivotal role in improving patient care and simplifying treatment regimes in the clinic. The controlled drug release of biomolecules from thin film coatings provides a simple pathway to offer complex localized in vivo dosing. In this investigation, we showed that it is possible to take advantage of the structure of hierarchically structured hollow silica/polymer hybrid system to control drug release. Drug-loaded polyelectrolyte multilayer films were developed using layer-by-layer assembly, incorporating the surface of the hierarchically structured hollow silica spheres. In comparison to the conventional hollow silica system, the synthesized formulation exhibited an enhanced stability, higher drug loading and better residual capacity of biomolecules. This rationally integrated architecture was demonstrated to be a very effective and controllable carrier for the drug release by changing the pH value. In addition, the developed system presented a highly selective molecular transport of doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX), a model anti-cancer agent, at different pH values; moreover, it could be further applied to tailor cell viability, making it more promising for advanced drug therapy.