biostudies-literatureChen XNational Natural Science Foundation of China6754https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6494808biostudies-literatureUnknown9(1)Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and the pH stimuli-responsive drug delivery system have been extensively applied in cancer treatment. Carrageenan derived from marine red algae shows a promising application prospect for drug delivery as a nanomaterial for its biodegradability, abundance, and non-toxicity. Carrageenan oligosaccharide (CAO) was used as a biocompatible reductant for green synthesis of CAO-AuNPs, and the obtained CAO-AuNPs were further used as a delivery system for pH-triggered delivery of epirubicin (EPI). The EPI-CAO-AuNPs were demonstrated to be spherical and homogeneous with mean diameter of 141 ± 6 nm by means of electron microscopy and Malvern particle size analyzer. Results showed that the release of EPI from EPI-CAO-AuNPs was significant under acidic condition that simulatedScientific reportsEpirubicin-loaded marine carrageenan oligosaccharide capped gold nanoparticle system for pH-triggered anticancer drug release.PMC6494808U1606403Han WWang FChen XTang WZhao XfalseEpirubicin-loaded marine carrageenan oligosaccharide capped gold nanoparticle system for pH-triggered anticancer drug release.Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and the pH stimuli-responsive drug delivery system have been extensively applied in cancer treatment. Carrageenan derived from marine red algae shows a promising application prospect for drug delivery as a nanomaterial for its biodegradability, abundance, and non-toxicity. Carrageenan oligosaccharide (CAO) was used as a biocompatible reductant for green synthesis of CAO-AuNPs, and the obtained CAO-AuNPs were further used as a delivery system for pH-triggered delivery of epirubicin (EPI). The EPI-CAO-AuNPs were demonstrated to be spherical and homogeneous with mean diameter of 141 ± 6 nm by means of electron microscopy and Malvern particle size analyzer. Results showed that the release of EPI from EPI-CAO-AuNPs was significant under acidic condition that simulated2019-01-01T00:00:00Z2019 May2026-05-07T03:45:15.336Z2019-06-06T23:26:07ZS-EPMC64948083104370910.1038/s41598-019-43106-9