Fluorescent Polysaccharide-Silica-Based Drug Conjugate Nanocarrier Inhibit Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Proliferation

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a highly prevalent and aggressive type of lung cancer, often associated with a poor prognosis. Cucurbitacin B, a natural tetracyclic triterpene, has demonstrated remarkable anticancer activity. In this study, we engineered a novel drug delivery system, Dex-APDMS@CP1@1@ Cucurbitacin B, which incorporates synthetically derived compound 1 to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of Cucurbitacin B. The system was comprehensively characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and nitrogen adsorption techniques. Results revealed excellent stability, a uniform particle size of approximately 500 nm, and a high drug-loading efficiency of 35.2 ± 2.1 wt%. Additionally, the in vitro drug release study indicated that 88.6 ± 3.5% of Cucurbitacin B was released within 12 hours, demonstrating a rapid release profile. The successful encapsulation of the drug was further confirmed by effective fluorescence quenching. In vitro experiments showed that the Dex-APDMS@CP1@1@Cucurbitacin B system significantly inhibited the proliferation of NSCLC cells, highlighting its great potential for targeted cancer therapy.