Rapidly monitorable drug loading system for self-illuminating anticancer via self-enhanced aggregation-induced electrochemiluminescence polymer dots

As a representative of “smart” drug delivery systems (DDSs), multi-functional DDSs is of great significance in the field of drug research and development. Meanwhile, the rapid monitoring of the drug loading ratios is a significant work to study the therapeutic activity of DDSs. Therefore, we develop an efficient drug loading monitorable DDS based on self-enhanced aggregation-induced electrochemiluminescence (AIECL) bi-functional polymer dots (Pdots) for self-illuminating therapy. In detail, a self-enhanced AIECL conjugated polymer is synthesized and modified with tertiary amine as ECL co-reactive group. After anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) is loaded in, the ECL signal of Pdots can be gradually quenched by increasing DOX ratios to give a low limit of detection as 0.9% (m_DOX/m_polymer), indicating its good performance in the rapid monitoring of drug loading. The drug loaded Pdots can not only indicate their location in cancer cells but also exhibit obvious anticancer property, which demonstrates its application in self-illuminating anticancer therapy. This work reports a novel strategy for accurate and rapid monitoring of the drug loading ratios in DDSs preparation and exhibits its positive role in advanced DDSs developments, which is of great significance in promoting its research development and improving personal and public health.