Construction of aptamer functionalized camptothecin incorporated chitosan-palladium/gold nanoparticles delivery improved photothermal activity and anti-lung carcinoma cells

This study aimed to develop a versatile aptamer-conjugated, photothermal responsive camptothecin (CPT)-loaded chitosan-bimetallic (Pd/Au) nanoparticles (Ap-CH-CPT-Pd/Au NPs) to enhance cytotoxicity in lung cancerous NCI-H446 and H1299 cells. The CH-CPT-Pd/Au NPs exhibited polydispersity with a diameter of 33.87 ± 2.23 nm. FTIR investigation revealed the presence of chitosan and camptothecin in chitosan-camptothecin-palladium/gold nanoparticles. The 2θ of CH-CPT-Pd/Au corresponded to chitosan and palladium/gold. The Ap-CH-CPT-Pd/Au NPs (180 μg/mL) subjected to near-infrared (NIR) treatment elevated the temperature to over 50 °C. The optimum CPT concentration was 0.075% in CH-CPT-Pd/Au, demonstrating a hydrodynamic diameter of 113.12 ± 16.78 nm, a drug loading efficiency (DLE) of 10.89 ± 0.53%, and a drug encapsulation efficiency (DEE) of 63.97 ± 4.21%. A CPT release rate of 7.23 ± 3.25% was recorded at pH = 5.4 after 74 h. In addition, NIR+Ap-CH-CPT-Pd/Au NPs exhibited negligible toxicity to red blood cells (RBCs). However, enhanced cytotoxicity in NCI-H446 and H1299 lung carcinoma cells is achieved through the induction of oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis.