Anticancer Drug Release System Based on Hollow Silica Nanocarriers Triggered by Tumor Cellular Microenvironments

[Image: see text] Targeted release of anticancer drugs to tumor sites has a pivotal role in clinical oncology. pH-responsive drug delivery systems, with an intelligent and targeted release of anticancer drugs in a controllable manner based on sensitivities to the weakly acidic environments of tumor cellular microenvironments, are desirable. Herein, the design of such a pH-responsive drug delivery system is detailed using in situ amino-functionalized hollow mesoporous silica nanoparticles as carriers. The drug release behavior of the pH-responsive delivery system was evaluated under an in vitro simulation of tumor cellular microenvironments. The drug delivery system has efficient drug loadings and targeted release. Zorubicin hydrochloride releasing percentage is almost up to 100% at a buffer pH of 5.0. The drug release systems described demonstrating great potential in anticancer therapy.