A novel 5-FU/rGO/Bce hybrid hydrogel shell on a tumor cell: one-step synthesis and synergistic chemo/photo-thermal/photodynamic effect

In this study, a novel drug-loaded inorganic nanoparticle-biomolecule hybrid hydrogel shell containing fluorouracil (5-FU)/reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/Brassica chinensis extract (Bce) on tumor cells was firstly constructed through a facile one-step method. The Bce stems from a natural green vegetable for improving the bio-compatibility of 5-FU/rGO/Bce hydrogel and presents multi-functions in this system. As both a reducing and a cross-linking agent for GO, Bce is beneficial for the fast formation of a rGO/Bce hybrid hydrogel at body temperature (37 degrees C) before laser irradiation, as well as being an excellent photo-sensitizer for inducing the generation of cytotoxic singlet oxygen (O-1(2)) to kill tumor cells by means of laser radiation. The rGO in the hybrid hydrogel possesses photothermal characteristic for the hyperthermia antitumor. After loading anticancer drugs, the formed 5-FU/rGO/Bce hybrid hydrogel shells encapsulated on the tumor cells in situ exhibit three competitive advantages, i.e., retaining the high concentration of drugs around tumor cells to enhance the localized antitumor effect, reducing the side effects by hindering drugs from migrating to normal tissue, and displaying effectively synergetic chemo/photo-thermal/photodynamic therapies. This study provides a new strategy to exploit the multi-functions of hybrid hydrogel materials for effective biomedical applications.