Electrochemical Drug Delivery of Plant-Derived Therapeutics via a Silica–Polysaccharide Electrode for Colorectal Cancer Inhibition

Colorectal cancer, a highly prevalent malignant tumor on a global scale, requires the development of novel therapeutic strategies that are both highly efficient and less toxic. This study presents a novel electro-responsive drug delivery system for colorectal cancer therapy. The synthesized composite exhibited distinct redox activity in 0.1 M PBS (pH 7.0), with an enhanced oxidation peak current (0.65 mA) compared to the drug-free matrix, indicating improved electron transfer upon loading compound 1. Fluorescence intensity significantly increased to ~ 290 a.u. (λ_em ≈ 575 nm), verifying successful drug encapsulation. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy further confirmed increased charge transfer resistance (Rct ≈ 5950 Ω), suggesting stable drug immobilization. Time-resolved fluorescence analysis revealed over 95% drug release within 320 min in PBS (pH 6.0), while applied potential and pH modulated release efficiency, reaching > 95% at 0.8 V and pH 2.0, respectively. In vitro CCK-8 assays demonstrated that Glucose–MPTMS@CP1@1 significantly inhibited proliferation of HCT116 and SW480 cells in a time-dependent manner, with stronger effects observed in HCT116 (P < 0.01). These results highlight Glucose–MPTMS@CP1@1 as a promising electrochemically controlled, pH-responsive platform for targeted colorectal cancer therapy.