Composite Microparticles from Microfluidics for Chemo-/Photothermal Therapy of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hydrogel microcarrier-based drug delivery systems are of great value in the combination therapy of tumors. Current research directions concentrate on the development of more economic, convenient, and effective combined therapeutic platforms. Herein, we developed novel adhesive composite microparticles (MP_PMD) with combined chemo- and photothermal therapy ability via microfluidic electrospray technology for local hepatocellular carcinoma treatment. These composite microparticles consisted of doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded and polydopamine-wrapped mesoporous silicon and alginate. Benefiting from such a strategy of hierarchical structure drug loading, DOX could be gradually released from the system, effectively avoiding the direct toxicity of chemotherapeutics to the body. Additionally, the designed microparticles could not only effectively treat tumors by releasing the chemotherapy drug DOX but also show excellent photothermal properties under the irradiation of near-infrared light, achieving combined chemo- and photothermal treatment effects. Based on these advantages, the MP_PMD could remarkably eliminate tumor cells in vitro and enormously restrict tumor development in vivo. These results illustrate that such composite microparticles are ideal combination treatment platforms, possessing promising expectations for cancer therapy.