Dual stimuli-responsive nanoplatform based on core-shell structured graphene oxide/mesoporous silica@alginate

A dual stimuli-responsive nanoplatform was rationally designed for controlled drug delivery. The nanosheets of graphene oxide (GO) were first modified with aminated mesoporous silica (NH₂-mSiO₂), and then methotrexate (MTX) was loaded into the mesopores of mSiO₂. Alginate (Alg) acted as the "gatekeeper" was then anchored to the MTX-loaded GO/NH₂-mSiO₂ by amidation reaction, achieving the encapsulation of MTX in the core-shell structured GO/mSiO₂@Alg. Due to the high pH sensitivity of amide bond and the excellent photothermal conversion ability of GO, the constructed nanoplatform could be used for pH and near-infrared (NIR) controlled delivery of MTX. The results of cell viability test demonstrate the high inhibitory rate of the dual stimuli-responsive nanoplatform toward hepatoma (HepG2) cells.