In this work, we developed multifunctional hydrogel nanoparticles (NPs) that can encapsulate anticancer drugs and imaging contrast agents as well. Mitomycin C (MMC) and rhodamine B (RB) were selected as models for anticancer drugs and imaging contrasting agents, respectively. Both MMC and RB were linked to the succinated polyvinyl alcohol polymer (PVA-SA). The selected labeled hydrogel NPs ((0.5% RB)-PVA-SA NPs and (1.5% RB)-PVA-SA NPs) improved the RB quantum yield from 29.8% to a minimum of 42.7%. Moreover, they showed higher emission stability compared to free RB when they were repeatedly excited at 554 nm for 2 h. Furthermore, the dye polymeric interactions significantly increased the RB fluorescence lifetime by approximately twofold. All these optical properties pave the way for our labeled hydrogel NPs to be used in imaging-guided therapy. For the labeled MMC-loaded NPs, the MMC-binding efficiency was found to be exceedingly high in all synthesized samples: a minimum of 92% was achieved. In addition, the obtained pH-dependent drug release profiles as well as the cytotoxicity evaluation demonstrated the high potential of releasing MMC under acidic cancerous conditions. Moreover, the in vitro cellular uptake experiment confirmed the accumulation of MMC NPs throughout the cytoplasm.

Here, we present a photothermally triggered drug delivery nanosystem MoS₂-NIMO-CHIT-SH, using the thiolated chitosan (CHIT-SH)-modified molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) nanosheets as near-infrared (NIR) photo-responsive carriers, loaded with the dihydropyridine calcium antagonist drug Nimodipine (NIMO). Although NIMO is used to treat stroke, migraine, Alzheimer’s disease, cerebrovascular spasms, and hypertension, this drug is poorly water-soluble, with low bioavailability and lack of selectivity. Thus, there is an urgent need for a novel approach to creating NIMO formulations that are safe, effective, and have better solubility and bioavailability. To overcome these problems, we develop a cationic biopolymer functionalized MoS₂ nanosheets as a photothermal drug carrier system to facilitate the NIR light-induced release of NIMO drugs. MoS₂ nanosheets (<150 nm) as NIMO drug carriers are prepared through simple exfoliation of their bulk phase and then functionalized with CHIT-SH biopolymer to increase their physiological stability and biocompatibility. According to the results, MoS₂-NIMO-CHIT-SH nanocomposites show strong NIR absorbance, which makes them a promising candidate for photothermal therapy.