A novel Janus nanomachine based on mesoporous silica nanoparticles anisotropically modified with PAMAM dendrimers for enzyme-controlled drug delivery†

Abstract

A masking/toposelective modification approach was employed to prepare a new organic–inorganic Janus nanomaterial by attaching ethylenediamine core polyamidoamine G-4.5 dendrimers to a defined face of mesoporous silica nanoparticles. The anisotropic colloid was then sequentially functionalized on the mesoporous face with (3-isocyanatopropyl)triethoxysilane, 1-(4-aminophenyl)-2-phenylethane-1,2-dione and β-cyclodextrin to assemble a novel H₂O₂-sensitive gating mechanism. The Janus nanomachine was finally constructed by immobilizing glucose oxidase on the dendrimeric face. The smart nanodevice released the encapsulated payload in the presence of H₂O₂ and glucose, and was successfully evaluated for the enzyme-controlled delivery of the antitumoral drug doxorubicin into HeLa cancer cells.