Alginate-based microcapsules with a molecule recognition linker and photosensitizer for the combined cancer treatment.

A reactive template method was used to fabricate alginate-based hydrogel microcapsules. The uniform and well-dispersed hydrogel capsules have a high drug loading capacity. After they are coated by a folate-linked lipid mixture on the surface, the capsules possess higher cell uptake efficiency by the molecule recognition between folate and the folate-receptor overexpressed by the cancer cells. Moreover, in this bioconjugate, the lipid could remarkably reduce the release rate of hydrophilic doxorubicin from the hydrogel microcapsules and encapsulate the hydrophobic photosensitizer hypocrellin B. The biointerfaced capsules could be used as drug carriers for combined treatment against cancer cell proliferation in vitro; this was much more effective than chemotherapy or photodynamic therapy alone.