Dual-sensitive and highly biocompatible O-carboxymethyl chitosan nanodroplets for prostate tumor ultrasonic imaging and treatment

Nanosized drug delivery systems have rapidly emerged as a promising approach to tumor therapy, which still have many challenges in clinical application. In this study, doxorubicin-loaded O-carboxymethyl chitosan/perfluorohexane nanodroplets (O-CS-DOX NDs) were synthesized and functionally tested as an effective drug delivery system in vitro and in vivo. O-CS-DOX NDs with small size (159.6 nm) and good doxorubicin encapsuling ability showed pH- and ultrasound-dependent drug release profile and satisfying ultrasound imaging performance. With high biocompatibility and biosafety, these nanodroplets could accumulate in the tumor sites and exhibit high efficiency in inhibiting tumor growth with ultrasound irradiation. These stable, safe and smart O-CS-DOX NDs showed promising potential as a smart dual-responsive bomb for tumor ultrasonic imaging and treatment.