A novel tumor targeted pH-sensitive ZnO@ (Polyacrylic acid-polyethylene glycol-Folic acid ( ZnO@ ( PAA- PEG-FA)) QDs was formed by electrostatic interaction of the carboxyl of PAA-PEG-FA and amino of ZnO QDs. Doxorubicin (DOX) was loaded on the ZnO@ (PAA-PEG-FA) QDs through coordination to form drug controlled release/ imaging QDs
ZnO@ (PAA-PEG-FA)-DOX. PAA-PEG-FA polymer and ZnO QDs were characterized by
1
H-NMR and IR. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that the ZnO@(PAA-PEG-FA) QDs were spherical with an average diameter of about 10nm. The results of DOX release show that DOX released well from ZnO@ (PAA-PEG-FA) QDs in lysosomes/endosomes of cancer cell (pH 5)
and only little DOX released in the process of drug delivery ( pH 7. 4). Therefore
the tumor targeted pH responsive ZnO QDs have potential application as anticancer drug carriers.