Redox/pH/NIR-responsive degradable silica nanospheres with fluorescence for drug release and photothermal therapy

Abstract In this work, S S bond-doped porous silica nanoparticles with CuS nanocores (CuS/OS) were prepared as drug carriers for chemical-photothermal synergistic therapy and redox/pH/light triple-response drug release. The synthesized CuS/OS carriers have dendritic pore structure with particle size of about 100 nm. Tiopronin (MPG) was used as model drug to evaluate the release performance of the carrier. Chitosan (CS) and green fluorescent curcumin (Cur) were used as plugs to seal the loaded drug, which endows the CuS/OS carrier with pH-responsive release and monitoring properties. The obtained MPG-loaded CuS/OS-CS-Cur has pH/GSH/NIR triple responsive release and redox-responsive degradation. The introduction of CuS nanocores gives the CuS/OS system a good photothermal therapy function. The CuS/OS-CS-Cur and its degradation products have good biocompatibility.