Using Magnetic and Photic Stimuli-Responsive Liposomes to Serve Up Chemotherapy Drugs to Cancer Cells

Abstract

Liposome is a traditional drug-delivery system and most novel studies have focused on its drug release function. In this paper, a new drug-delivery system based on liposomes was prepared, which contains hydrophobic FeAg alloy nanoparticles (FeAgNPs) in their lipid bilayer and berberine as test drug in their middle water phase. The size of AgFe-Ls was about 200 nm, the encapsulation efficiency of drugs was 35% and the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of AgFe-Ls was about 41.96 °C. FeAgNPs in the AgFe-Ls had a 1:1 iron-to-silver atomic ratio with both optical and superparamagnetic properties. The photothermal effect and magnetocaloric effect of FeAgNPs could serve up both photo-stimulated and magnetic- stimulated drug release to liposomes. Release experiments results showed that AgFe-Ls could easily release berberine when stimulated by UV light (45% drug release at 20 min) or alternating current electromagnetic field (AMF) (80% drug release at 4 h). AgFe-Ls with both photo-controlled and magnetic-controlled drug release functions are promising to serve up chemotherapy drugs to cancer cells.