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Transformable liquid-metal nanomedicine

Author

Listed:
  • Yue Lu

    (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University
    Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

  • Quanyin Hu

    (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University
    Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

  • Yiliang Lin

    (North Carolina State University)

  • Dennis B. Pacardo

    (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University
    Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

  • Chao Wang

    (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University
    Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

  • Wujin Sun

    (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University
    Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

  • Frances S. Ligler

    (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University)

  • Michael D. Dickey

    (North Carolina State University)

  • Zhen Gu

    (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University
    Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
    University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

Abstract

To date, numerous inorganic nanocarriers have been explored for drug delivery systems (DDSs). However, the clinical application of inorganic formulations has often been hindered by their toxicity and failure to biodegrade. We describe here a transformable liquid-metal nanomedicine, based on a core–shell nanosphere composed of a liquid-phase eutectic gallium-indium core and a thiolated polymeric shell. This formulation can be simply produced through a sonication-mediated method with bioconjugation flexibility. The resulting nanoparticles loaded with doxorubicin (Dox) have an average diameter of 107 nm and demonstrate the capability to fuse and subsequently degrade under a mildly acidic condition, which facilitates release of Dox in acidic endosomes after cellular internalization. Equipped with hyaluronic acid, a tumour-targeting ligand, this formulation displays enhanced chemotherapeutic inhibition towards the xenograft tumour-bearing mice. This liquid metal-based DDS with fusible and degradable behaviour under physiological conditions provides a new strategy for engineering theranostic agents with low toxicity.

Suggested Citation

  • Yue Lu & Quanyin Hu & Yiliang Lin & Dennis B. Pacardo & Chao Wang & Wujin Sun & Frances S. Ligler & Michael D. Dickey & Zhen Gu, 2015. "Transformable liquid-metal nanomedicine," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms10066
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms10066
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    Cited by:

    1. Muhammad Ferhan, 2017. "Coordination Complexes with Lignin-Based Nanoparticles in Targeted Drug Controlled Release and Their Molecular Expression in Cell Lines," Novel Approaches in Drug Designing & Development, Juniper Publishers Inc., vol. 1(2), pages 24-31, May.
    2. Young-Geun Park & Yong Won Kwon & Chin Su Koh & Enji Kim & Dong Ha Lee & Sumin Kim & Jongmin Mun & Yeon-Mi Hong & Sanghoon Lee & Ju-Young Kim & Jae-Hyun Lee & Hyun Ho Jung & Jinwoo Cheon & Jin Woo Cha, 2024. "In-vivo integration of soft neural probes through high-resolution printing of liquid electronics on the cranium," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, December.

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