Efficient tumor treatment by triphenylphosphine conjugated nanocellulose composite hydrogels for enhanced mitochondria targeting

The study of mitochondria-targeted antitumor treatment has been extensively developed as target sites to improve the efficiency of cancer therapy. On this basis, cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) with large specific surface areas, which can conjugate large amounts of active groups, have been provided with the potential antitumor platform for developing mitochondria-targeted triggers. Herein, an efficient mitochondria-targeting nanocellulose composite hydrogel based on triphenylphosphine (TPP) conjugated quaternized cellulose nanocrystal (QCNC) and agarose was developed and used as mitochondria targeting triggers to deliver drugs to cancer cells. Furthermore, TPP conjugated dihydroartemisinin (DHA) was loaded into the nanocellulose composite hydrogels, accompanied by the significant generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and resulted in cell apoptosis. This DHA-loaded nanocellulose composite hydrogel has achieved a doubled ROS yield than free DHA, and the results showed that the viability of the A549 cell was reduced by 50 % by nanocellulose composite hydrogels treatment compared to free DHA. Moreover, the nanocellulose composite hydrogel demonstrated nontoxic performance in vitro cytotoxicity studies on HUVEC cells. This current study indicates the strong potential for using nanocellulose as biocompatible and efficient mitochondria-targeted triggers in cancer therapies.