GSH-responsive magnetic mesoporous silica nanoparticles for efficient controlled drug delivery in tumor cells

Abstract

In this study, glutathione (GSH)-responsive magnetic mesoporous silica nanoparticles grafted by disulfide organosilicon (SMNPs) were synthesized, characterized, and evaluated as controlled drug carriers. The nanoparticles exhibited consistent dispersion, considerable drug-loading capacity, and high saturation magnetization. Importantly, they demonstrated the ability to release doxorubicin (DOX) by up to 43% in a reducing tumor microenvironment, highlighting their potential for targeted therapy. In addition, the SMNPs displayed favorable biocompatibility, making them suitable for biomedical applications. Most notably, the SMNPs loaded with DOX effectively killed both HepG2 and HeLa cancer cells, while also showing efficient cellular uptake in HeLa cells. These findings suggest that SMNPs are a promising platform for magnetic-targeted and GSH-responsive delivery of therapeutic agents.