Multi-stimuli-responsive dox released from magnetosome for tumor synergistic theranostics

Background: To improve responses to tumor microenvironments for achieving a better therapeutic outcome in combination cancer therapy, poly(ε-caprolactone)-SS-poly (methacrylic acid) diblock copolymer (PCL-SS-PMAA) with a disulfide linkage between the hydrophobic and hydrophilic junctions was synthesized. Materials and Methods: Repeating units of PCL and PMAA in PCL-SS-PMAA were controlled and formulated into polymersomes (PSPps). Truncated octahedral Fe₃O₄ nanoparti-cles (IONPs) were synthesized and encapsulated to produce IONPs-PSPps NPs and doxorubicin (DOX) was further loaded to produce IONPs-PSPps@DOX NPs for theranostic applications. Results: IONPs-PSPps NPs remained a superparamagnetic property with a saturation mag-netization value of 85 emu⋅g_Fe3O4 −1 and a relaxivity value of 180 mM⁻¹⋅s⁻¹. Upon exposure to an alternating magnetic field (AMF), IONPs-PSPps NPs increased temperature from 25°C to 54°C within 15 min. Among test groups, the cell apoptosis was greatest in the group exposed to IONPs-PSPps@DOX NPs with AMF and magnet assistance. In vivo T₂-weighted magnetic resonance images of A549 tumor-bearing mice also showed highest contrast and greatest tumor suppression in the tumor with AMF and magnet assistance. Conclusion: IONPs-PSPps@DOX NPs are a potential theranostic agent having multifa-ceted applications involving magnetic targeting, MRI diagnosis, hyperthermia and chemotherapy.