“Biped” Janus Fe3O4@nSiO2@TiO2−x&mSiO2 Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery and Microwave-Triggered Drug Release

Abstract

In this work, we constructed the “Biped” Janus Fe3O4@[Formula: see text]SiO2@TiO[Formula: see text]&[Formula: see text]SiO2 nanoparticles as drug carriers to improve the performance of microwave-controlled releasing drugs. The SEM and TEM characterization confirmed the successful synthesis of the “Biped” Janus nanoparticles. The Fe3O4@[Formula: see text]SiO2@TiO[Formula: see text] core-shell nanosphere showed stable nanoparticles of consistent and desirable diameter of about 250[Formula: see text]nm. The length and the diameter of the rod-shaped [Formula: see text]SiO2 were about 420[Formula: see text]nm and 310[Formula: see text]nm, respectively. The cumulative loading rate of doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) reached 43[Formula: see text]wt% after 240[Formula: see text]min, equivalent to 100.18[Formula: see text]mg g[Formula: see text]. It was found that the “Biped” Janus nanoparticles had dual-triggering properties of pH and microwave. At pH 7.0, 5.0 and 3.0, the drug release rate was as high as 55.91[Formula: see text]wt%, 73.78[Formula: see text]wt% and 77.81[Formula: see text]wt% at 210[Formula: see text]min, respectively. Under the microwave stimulation of pH 7.0, the drug release rate was significantly increased from 55.91[Formula: see text]wt% to 83.86[Formula: see text]wt% compared with nonmicrowave irradiation. The “Biped” Janus Fe3O4@[Formula: see text]SiO2@TiO[Formula: see text]&[Formula: see text]SiO2 have high drug loading and release efficiency, and shown good biocompatibility. Therefore, the biped Janus-shaped nanoparticles have huge potential in targeted therapy.