A dual-responsive "Yin-Yang" photothermal delivery system to accelerate Parthenolide anti-tumor efficacy

Parthenolide (PTL), a germacrane sesquiterpene lactone extracted from the "Yin" Chinese traditional herb feverfew, has gained interest due to its lethal effects on tumor cells and its pharmacological effects within traditional Chinese medicine theory. To overcome low, non-targeted accumulation and uncontrolled release of PTL administration, a dual-responsive PTL-liposomes@chitosan@gold nanoshells (PTL-Lips@CS@GNS) system was fabricated. Hyperthermia generated under light irradiation in the near-infrared region via local surface plasmon resonance of gold nanoshells induced photothermal therapy, which also stimulated PTL release due to the liposomes gel-to-liquid crystalline phase transition. Additionally, PTL-Lips@CS@GNS exhibited a pH-responsive release in the acidic tumor microenvironment. Collectively, this study provides a realistic strategy for an effective combination of traditional Chinese medicine and current nanotechnology for tumor therapy.