由于大多数实体瘤的 pH 值较低，pH 响应型药物递送系统可能为肿瘤靶向治疗提供广泛的方法。本研究用于分析香芹酚-氧化锌量子点（CVC-ZnO QD）对乳腺癌细胞（MDA-MB-231）的抗癌活性。 CVC-ZnO QD 表现出 pH 响应性，并且在酸性 pH 肿瘤微环境中特异性释放。这一特性使得靶向药物能够专门输送到癌细胞，同时最大限度地减少对正常细胞的影响。将CVC负载到合成的ZnO量子点上，然后通过X射线衍射、紫外-可见光、傅里叶变换红外分光光度计、扫描电子显微镜-能量色散X射线和透射电子显微镜进行检查。在长达 20 小时的时间内，在不同的 pH 缓冲溶液中检查了 CVC 的释放。结果表明香芹酚在酸性pH溶液中释放稳定。此外，还检查了细胞毒性测定、抗氧化剂和脂质过氧化活性、活性氧、线粒体膜电位、核损伤以及 CVC-ZnO QD 引起细胞凋亡的能力。还研究了 Bcl2、Bax、caspase-3 和 caspase-9 等凋亡标记物。总之，CVC-ZnO QD 在酸性肿瘤微环境下破坏了 MDA-MB-231 细胞的稳定性并调节细胞凋亡。© 2024 John Wiley

Since most solid tumors have a low pH value, a pH-responsive drug delivery system may offer a broad method for tumor-targeting treatment. The present study is used to analyze the anticancer activity of carvacrol-zinc oxide quantum dots (CVC-ZnO QDs) against breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231). CVC-ZnO QDs demonstrate pH responsive and are specifically released within the acidic pH tumor microenvironment. This property enables targeted drug delivery exclusively to cancer cells while minimizing the impact on normal cells. To the synthesized ZnO QDs, the CVC was loaded and then examined by X-ray diffraction, ultraviolet-visible, Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer, scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray, and transmission electron microscopy. For up to 20 h, CVC release was examined in different pH-buffered solutions. The results showed that carvacrol release was stable in an acidic pH solution. Further, cytotoxicity assay, antioxidant, and lipid peroxidation activity, reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial membrane potential, nuclear damage, and the ability of CVC-ZnO QDs to cause apoptosis were all examined. Apoptosis markers such as Bcl2, Bax, caspase-3, and caspase-9, were also studied. In conclusion, the CVC-ZnO QDs destabilized the MDA-MB-231cells under its acidic tumor microenvironment and regulated apoptosis.© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.