pH- and H_(2)O_(2)-sensitive drug delivery system based on sodium xanthate:Dual-responsive supramolecular vesicles from one functional group

Nano-drug delivery systems with multiple stimulus-responsive capabilities have superior response performance and efficient drug release.Nevertheless,it is sophisticated to construct multiple stimulus-responsive systems where the two or more functional groups need to be introduced simultaneously.Xanthate,one functional group with pH and H2O2 stimulus responsiveness,has significant potential applications for building dual-responsive drug delivery system.Herein,we present a novel dual stimuli-responsive supramolecular drug delivery system by using sodium xanthate derivative(SXD)as guest molecule and quaternary ammonium capped pillar[5]arene(QAP5)as host molecule through host-guest interaction on the basis of electrostatic interaction.The amphiphile QAP5⊃SXD could self-assemble into vesicles to efficiently load the anti-cancer drug DOX.The experimental results showed that QAP5⊃SXD nanoparticles could achieve efficient drug delivery and controlled release in the tumor microenvironment.Cytotoxicity experiments proved that DOX@QAP5⊃SXD nanoparticles could significantly improve the anticancer efficiency of free DOX on cancer cells.The present study provides an efficient strategy to develop supramolecular nanocarriers with dual-responsiveness in one functional group for controlled drug release.