Folate-Functionalized Mesoporous Hollow SnO2 Nanofibers as a Targeting Drug Carrier to Improve the Antitumor Effect of Paclitaxel for Liver Cancer Therapy

Abstract

In this study, we prepared PTX-loaded mesoporous hollow SnO₂ nanofibers conjugated with folic acid (SFNFP) for liver cancer therapy. According to SEM and TEM characterization, SFNF showed a mesoporous hollow structure. The average outer diameter was 200 nm, and the wall thickness was 50 nm. The DSC and XRD study showed that PTX in the channels of nanofibers was present in an amorphous state. The in vitro release experiments demonstrated that SFNF could efficiently improve the dissolution rate of PTX. Both in vitro cell experiments and in vivo antitumor experiments showed that SFNFP could efficiently inhibit the growth of liver cancer cells. Therefore, SFNF is a promising targeting antitumor drug delivery carrier.

Scheme 1

Schematic diagrams for illustrating the synthesis of SNF.

Figure 1

The SEM (a) and TEM (b) images of SNF.

Figure 2

FTIR spectra of SNF, FA, and SFNF.

Figure 3

The (a) DSC patterns and (b) XRD patterns of (A) pure PTX, (B) PMSNFP, (C) PMSFNFP, (D) SNF, (E) SFNF, (F) SNFP, and (G) SFNFP.

Figure 4

In vitro drug release curves of pure PTX, SNFP, and SFNFP in PBS (pH 7.4) containing 0.01% SDS at temperature of 37°C. Data represented as mean ± SD (n=3).

Figure 5

The cell viability of SMMC-7721 cells incubated with (a) SNF and SFNF; (b) PTX, SNFP, and SFNFP for 48 h. Data represented as mean ± SD (n=6).

Figure 6

(a) Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) images of SMMC-7721 cells treated with SFNFP for 1, 2, and 3 h, respectively. (b) The PTX concentration in SMMC-7721cells treated with pure PTX, SNFP, and SFNFP. Data represented as mean ± SD (n=3).

Figure 7

The flow cytometry plots of SMMC-7721 cells treated with (a) the control group, (b) pure PTX, (c) SNFP, and (d) SFNFP.

Figure 8

(a) Effect of SFNFP on the expression of Bcl-2, caspase-3, and Bax in SMMC-7721 cells treated with (A) the control group, (B) pure PTX, (C) SNFP, and (D) SFNFP. (b) The statistical analysis of western blot assay. ∗∗P<0.01 compared with the control group.

Figure 9

(a) The tumor volume of the control group, PTX group, SNFP group, and SFNFP group. Data represented as mean ± SD (n=3). (b) Images of tumors from each treatment group following excision on day 21.