Dual functional hybrid-polyoxometalate as a new approach for multidrug delivery

Abstract

Herein, a new antitumor active polyoxometalate, (TBA)4H3[GeW9V3O40], has been introduced as an inorganic drug with enormous influence on brain cancer cells and its outstanding results against U87 cells have been described. Post-functionalization of this polyoxometalate produces a drug delivery vehicle which comprises both kinds of inorganic and organic drugs. This system is consisted of mesoporous silica nanoparticles as organic drug carrier, along with redox-responsive disulfide bonds for drug release into the cell at the same time. Moreover, a fluorescence dye has been attached to the polyoxometalate that allows for tracking the drug into the cell environment. This dual-functionalized polyoxometalate was utilized in a designed multidrug delivery system, and worked greatly against U87 cells and knocked down these cancer cells up to near 70% in 48 h. Due to its unique properties, this multidrug delivery vehicle is potent to be developed and used for various applications in cancer therapy. © 2017 Elsevier Inc.