Biodegradable ZnO@polymer core-shell nanocarriers: pH-triggered release of doxorubicin in vitro.

Luminescent ZnO@polymer core-shell nanoparticles were synthesized and loaded with doxorubicin (DOX) for the treatment of human brain cancer cells. Analyses by confocal laser scanning microscopy proved that the ZnO@polymer-DOX nanocomposites were decomposed at lysosomes to release DOX molecules, which penetrated into the nucleus and finally killed the cells (see picture). Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.