Photothermally Controllable Cytosolic Drug Delivery Based on Core-Shell MoS2-Porous Silica Nanoplates

Abstract

Single-layered molybdenum sulfide (MoS2) displays strong photothermal properties, but low colloidal stability in aqueous solution prevents its biomedical application as a functional drug delivery carrier. We report a photothermally controllable nanoplate consisting of porous silica-coated, single-layered MoS2, modified with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). Silica and PEG enhanced stability and maintained the single layer structure of MoS2 for over a month. A representative anticancer drug, doxorubicin (DOX), was loaded into the silica structure and subsequent exposure to near-infrared irradiation facilitated both endosomal escape of the carrier and the release of DOX. DOX-loaded, silica-coated, singlelayered MoS2 (DOX−PSMS−PEG) showed better therapeutic effect against liver and colon cancer compared than free DOX did; a result probably attributable to the combined effects of photothermally facilitated endosomal escape and the vulnerability of cancer cells to localized heating. These studies suggest that considerable new opportunities may exist for spatiotemporally controllable drug delivery systems based on single-layered MoS2. © 2016 American Chemical Society