Aptamer-Capped MultifunctionalMesoporous StrontiumHydroxyapatite Nanovehicle for Cancer-Cell-Responsive Drug Deliveryand Imaging.

A novel cancer-cells-triggered controlled-release gadolinium-dopedluminescent and mesoporous strontium hydroxyapatite nanorods (designatedas Gd:SrHap nanorods) system using cell-type-specific aptamers ascaps has been constructed. Aptamers behave as a dual-functional moleculethat acts as not only a lid but also a targeted molecular that canbe used in an effective way for therapeutically special cancer cells.After incubated with cancer cells, for example, MCF-7 cells, the doxorubicin-loadedand aptamer-capped Gd:SrHap nanorods (designated as Gd:SrHap-Dox-aptamer)can be internalized into MCF-7 cells, resulting in the pore openingand drug releasing. Furthermore, the high biocompatibility and biodegradabilityGd:SrHap nanorods with blue autofluorescence and paramagnetism couldserve as a good contrast agent of targeting fluorescence and magneticresonance imaging. We envision that this Gd:SrHap system could playa significant role in developing new generations of site-selective,controlled-release delivery and interactive sensory nanodevices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]