Mediated Drug Release from Nano-Vehicles by Black Phosphorus Quantum Dots for Efficient Therapy of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an intractable disease involving a sticky mucus layer and nano-agents with the mucus-penetrating capability offer a new way to deliver drugs therapeutically.  However, drug release from nano-vehicles requires optimization in order to enhance the therapeutic effects of COPD therapy.  Herein, black phosphorus quantum dots (BPQDs) are combined with PEGylated chitosan nanospheres containing amikacin (designated as PEG@CS/BPQDs-AM NPs).  As a drug delivery system, the hydrophilicity of PEG and positive charge of CS facilitate deep penetration of nano-vehicles through the mucus layer adhering onto the mucous epithelium.  What's more, the interior BPQDs degrade rapidly into nontoxic PO 4 3-  and acidic H +  thereby promoting dissociation of PEGylated CS nanospheres, accelerating release of therapeutic AM, and eventually debilitating the vitality of biofilms for ease of eradication.  Our results reveal that drug delivery mediated by BPQDs is a feasible and desirable strategy for precision medicine and very promising in clinical therapy of COPD.