NIR-/pH-Responsive drug delivery of functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes for potential application in cancer chemo-photothermal therapy.

Purpose: To establish a NIR (near infrared)-/pH-responsive and sustained-release tumor-targeting drug delivery system (SWNT-PEI/DOX/NGR).
Methods: Functionalized SWNTs with polymerised polymeric poly(ethylene imine) was linked NGR (Asn-Gly-Arg) tumor-targeting peptide by DSPE-PEG2000-Maleimide via the maleimide group and sulfhydryl group of cysteine, in the end, doxorubicin (DOX) was attached to SWNT-PEI to obtain a SWNT-PEI/DOX/NGR delivery system.
Results: The SWNT-PEI/DOX/NGR delivery system has significantly sustained-release effect and the slow release of DOX in normal tissues contribute to reduced systemic toxicity, while under 808 nm NIR laser irradiation or under lower pH environment the release of DOX can be accelerated.
Conclusions: Due to hyperthermia sensitizer effect of DOX, chemo-photothermal exemplified by SWNT-PEI/DOX/NGR tumor-targeting delivery system is a promising approach to anticancer therapy in vivo or in vitro.