Magnetic core-shell S-nitrosothiols nanoparticles as tumor dual-targeting theranostic platform.

The external force guided targeting strategy, as well as the in vivo active targeting strategy based on "ligands-receptors" on the targeting cells and tissues have attracted much research interest. Herein, a kind of hyaluronic acid (HA) and folic acid (FA) modified magnetic S-nitrosothiols core-shell nanoparticles for nitric oxide (NO) control release as dual-tumor targeting theranostic platform were described, combining the external guidance and internal active targeting properties. Confocal microscopy assay and cells cytotoxicity experiments confirmed the active tumor cells targeting recognition, cells uptake, and NO initiated cytotoxicity of the HA-FA external functional layer modified S-nitrosothiols nanoparticles in vitro. In vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characterization, bio-distribution assay in organs and tumor, significant tumor inhibition efficacy, survival units of the mice bearing tumor, as well as the systemic toxicity assay demonstrated the efficiency of cooperative tumor targeting diagnosis and controlled NO-releasing chemotherapy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time of the external magnet and HA-FA actively induced synergistic effect tumor targeting systems based on NO chemotherapy in vivo, serving as a new theranostic system.