Facile Approach to Prepare rGO@Fe(3)O(4) Microspheres for the Magnetically Targeted and NIR-responsive Chemo-photothermal Combination Therapy

Near-infrared (NIR)-light responsive graphene have been shown exciting effect on cancer photothermal ablation therapy. Herein, we report on the preparation of Fe(3)O(4)-decorated hollow graphene microspheres (rGO@Fe(3)O(4)) by a facile spray drying and coprecipitation method for the magnetically targeted and NIR-responsive chemo-photothermal combination therapy. The microspheres displayed very high specific surface area (~ 120.7 m(2) g(−1)) and large pore volume (~ 1.012 cm(3) g(−1)), demonstrating distinct advantages for a high loading capacity of DOX (~ 18.43%). NIR triggered photothermal effect of the rGO@Fe(3)O(4) microspheres responded in an on-off manner and induced a high photothermal conversion efficiency. Moreover, The Fe(3)O(4) on the microspheres exhibited an excellent tumor cells targeting ability. The chemo-photothermal treatment based on rGO@Fe(3)O(4)/DOX showed superior cytotoxicity towards Hela cells in vitro. Our studies indicated that rGO@Fe(3)O(4)/DOX microcapsules have great potential in combined chemo-photothermal cancer treatment.