Fabrication of docetaxel-loaded PEG-modified calcium carbonate-loaded zeolite imidazole nanoframeworks for synergic gastric cancer photothermal therapy.

The direct use of chemotherapeutic agents in gastric cancer treatment can result in systemic adverse effects and inadequate therapeutic efficacy. The superior features of nanoparticles provide them with potent tools for enhancing the targeted delivery of chemotherapeutic agents. Herein, we developed the fabrication of a DT&IG@ZIF-8@CC-PG nano-carrier, which was paired with photothermal therapy (PTT) and calcium overload to provide synergic therapeutic effects. The drug carrier comprised a zeolite imidazolate (ZIF-8) core and a PEG-altered calcium carbonate (CC) shell. The core was a co-loading site for the chemotherapeutic drugs docetaxel (DT) and the photosensitizer indocyanine green (IG). Comparative in vitro cellular studies showed that the toxicity of DT&IG@ZIF-8@CC-PG against HGT-1 human gastric cancer cells was remarkably greater than that of single chemotherapy. This can be attributed to chemotherapy, PTT, and calcium overloading. The apoptotic mode of HGT-1 cell death was confirmed by acridine orange/propidium iodide and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining methods, and the results revealed that DT&IG@ZIF-8@CC-PG effectively induces apoptosis. This drug-laden nano-carrier exhibits remarkable properties, including excellent stability, increased drug loading, and effective drug release, providing a promising opportunity for synergistic treatment.