Functionalized MoS(2)-nanoparticles for transdermal drug delivery of atenolol

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS(2)) has excellent photothermal conversion abilities, an ultra-high specific surface area, and has been extensively explored for use in biomedicine. However, the high toxicity associated with MoS(2) has limited its biological applications for in vivo photothermal therapy and drug delivery systems. Herein, we have developed cationic hydroxyethyl cellulose (JR400) surface-modified MoS(2) nanoparticles (NPs) that are responsive to near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation as a transdermal drug delivery system (TDDS). Herein, we confirmed the preparation of hexagonal phase MoS(2) with robust surface modification with JR400. The flower-like morphology of the NPs had an average diameter of 355 ± 69.3 nm limiting the absorption of the NPs through the stratum corneum. With the ability to efficiently load 90.4 ± 0.3% of the model drug atenolol (ATE), where 1 g of JR400-MoS(2) NPs was able to load 3.6 g ATE, we assayed the controlled release capacity in vitro skin penetration studies. These JR400-MoS(2) NPs showed further enhancement under NIR stimulation, with a 2.3-fold increase in ATE skin penetration. Furthermore, we verified in vivo that these JR400-MoS(2) NPs do not cause skin irritation suggesting that they are promising new TDDS candidates for small molecule drugs.