Ultra-small MoS2 nanodots-incorporated mesoporous silica nanospheres for pH-sensitive drug delivery and CT imaging

Abstract

Functionalization of mesoporous silica spheres with well-dispersed and ultra-small nanodots to exert their synergistic effects for biomedical applications has been considered to be an urgent challenge. Herein, homogeneously incorporation of ultra-small and monodispersed MoS2 nanodots in the mesoporous silica nanospheres (MSN) was achieved by a facile one-step solvothermal reaction. The as-synthesized UsMSND@MSN possessed uniform size (∼115 nm) and favorable biocompatibility inherited from MSN. The dispersed UsMSND within MSN could act as anchoring sites for aromatic anti-cancer drug DOX loading, and consequently achieved pH-responsive release based on the special π-π/electrostatic interactions with the DOX molecules. More importantly, the well-dispersed UsMSND in MSN could function as the non-toxic contrast agent for the sensitive in vivo CT imaging in various tumors including breast cancer and glioma with different sections. This work promises a good strategy for dispersed incorporation of UsMSND into MSN as an excellent pH-responsive platform for simultaneous cancer imaging and therapy.