Nanocomposites Based on Layered Double Hydroxides Loaded with Curcumin and Carbon Nitride Quantum Dots for Combined Chemotherapy and Chemodynamic Therapy of Tumors

Using multifunctional nanocomposites for multiple therapeutic approaches has emerged as an innovative cancer treatment strategy. Chemotherapy and chemodynamic therapy (CDT) have many benefits for cancer therapy, in which have great significance to develop nanocomposites that enable chemotherapy/CDT combined treatment. Herein, in situ co-precipitation method was used to load curcumin (Cur) into layered double hydroxide (LDH). Then, the Cur/LDH was assembled with carbon nitride quantum dots (CNQDs) through electrostatic adsorption. Acidic microenvironment–responsive nanocomposite (Cur/LDH/CNQDs) was constructed and used for tumor treatment. The as-synthesized Cur/LDH/CNQDs exhibits good biocompatibility and chemodynamic properties. In addition, the releases of Fe(II) ions (78%) and Cur (85%) are accelerated under acidic pH conditions that mimic the tumor microenvironment. The results show that the combination of chemotherapy and CDT can enhance its tumor-killing ability compared with single therapy. In essence, Cur/LDH/CNQDs shows a good effect in combined chemotherapy/CDT treatment of tumor cells and provide a promising alternative for combined tumor therapy.