Sub-50 nm core–shell nanoparticles with the pH-responsive squeezing release effect for targeting therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma

The sub-50 nm pH-responsive nanoparticles have cross-linked acidic cores and galactosylated shells, which endow them with high targeting efficacy to hepatoma cells, high drug loading efficiency at pH 7.4, and rapid squeezable drug release at pH 5.0.