Enhanced anticancer potency using an acid-responsive ZnO-incorporated liposomal drug-delivery system.

The development of stimuli-responsive nanocarriers is becoming important in chemotherapy. Liposomes, with an appropriate triggering mechanism, can efficiently deliver their encapsulated cargo in a controlled manner. We explored the use of acid-sensitive zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZNPs) as modulators of the responsive properties of liposomes.

Multi-synergetic ZnO platform for high performance cancer therapy.

ZnO platforms were evaluated for designing a high-performance anticancer drug (daunorubicin) carrier. Hollow structured ZnO, compared with nanorods, acts as a multi-purpose entity by serving as smart carriers and exhibiting synergetic photodynamic cytotoxic effects, which are ascribed to their high-specific surface area, hollow interior, pH-responsiveness and inherent photodynamism.