Preparation of magnetic fluorescent dual-drug nanocomposites for codelivery of kaempferol and paclitaxel

Magnetic fluorescent dual-drug nanocomposites (MFDDs) were developed with the aim of simultaneouly delivering two different anticancer drugs, kaempferol (KAE) and paclitaxel (PTX). Firstly, Fe3O4/ bovine serum albumin (Fe3O4/BSA) composite microspheres with physically entrapped KAE were prepared, then microspheres were modified with PTX/graphene quantum dots (PTX/GQDs) through chemically bonding, and the MFDDs were obtained. The properties of nancomposites were characterized by X-ray diffractometry, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, vibrating sample magnetometry and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. It was found that the superparamagnetic nanocomposites had ultrafine size (below 110 nm), high saturation magnetization of 24.36 emu/g, and significant fluorescence. Furthermore, the cumulative in vitro release of the MFDDs exhibited controlled drug release. Cell viability experiments confirmed that the co-administration of KAE with PTX had a superior cytotoxicity to the Hela cells compared with single drug-loaded forms. Therefore, dual anticancer drug-loaded MFDDs have the potential to be used for cancer combined chemotherapy.