Magnetic liposomes for light-sensitive drug delivery and combined photothermal–chemotherapy of tumors

The targeted delivery of anticancer drugs for improving the therapeutic efficacy and reducing the side effects has attracted great attention in cancer therapy. In this study, multifunctional magnetic nanoparticles-loaded thermosensitive liposomes (Fe3O4–TSL) were developed for the near-infrared (NIR) laser-triggered release and combined photothermal–chemotherapy of tumors. Doxorubicin (DOX) was encapsulated into the Fe3O4–TSL (DOX–Fe3O4–TSL) via an ammonium sulfate gradient, with an encapsulation efficiency of up to 90.9%. Once treated with NIR laser irradiation, significantly improved drug release was observed in the DOX–Fe3O4–TSL compared to that of DOX–TSL. After an intravenous injection, Fe3O4–TSL tended to enrich in the tumor over time and showed remarkable magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and photothermal effects. The combined chemo–photothermal therapy study demonstrated that DOX–Fe3O4–TSL could significantly inhibit the tumor growth without causing any significant damage to normal tissues under NIR laser irradiation. These results revealed a great potential for DOX–Fe3O4–TSL for the diagnosis and synergistic therapy of tumors.