Herein, we report a facile fabrication of a
polymer (
azobenzene and α-
cyclodextrin-functionalized
hyaluronic acid) and
gold nanobipyramids (AuNBs) conjugated mesoporous
silica nanoparticles (MSNs) to be used as an
injectable drug delivery system for sustained
cancer treatment. Because of the specific affinity between the
hyaluronic acid (HA) on MSNs and the
CD44 antigen overexpressed on
tumor cells, the MSNs can selectively attach to
tumor cells. The nanocomposite material then exploits thermoresponsive interactions between α-
cyclodextrin and
azobenzene, and the photothermal properties of
gold nanobipyramids, to in situ self-assemble into a
hydrogel under near-infrared (NIR) radiation. Upon gelation, the drug (
doxorubicin)-loaded MSNs carriers were enclosed in the HA network of the
hydrogel, whereas further degradation of the HA in the
hydrogel due to the upregulation of
hyaluronidase (HAase) around the
tumor tissue will result in the release of MSNs from the
hydrogel, which can then be taken by
tumor cells and deliver their drug to the cell nuclei. This design is able to provide a microenvironment with rich anticancer drugs in, and around, the
tumor tissue for time periods long enough to prevent the recrudescence of the disease. The extra efficacy that this strategy affords builds upon the capabilities of conventional
therapies.