Ascorbic acid induced HepG2 cells' apoptosis via intracellular reductive stress.

ABSTRACT: Goals: Destruction of the redox balance in tumor cells is of great significance for triggering their apoptosis in clinical applications. We designed a pH sensitive multifunctional drug nanocarrier with controllable release of ascorbic acid under hypoxic environment to induce tumor cells' apoptosis via enhancing reductive stress, thereby dealing minimum damage to normal tissues. Methods: A core-shell nanostructure of CdTe quantum dots with mesoporous silica coating was developed and functionalized with poly(2-vinylpyridine)-polyethylene glycol-folic acid, which achieves cancer cells' targeting delivery and reversibly pH controlled release of ascorbic acid both in vitro and in vivo. Results: The result demonstrated that ascorbic acid can indeed lead

SUBMITTER: Gao X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6592181 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature