Coupling calcium ion fluorescence sensing with berberine delivery: A multifunctional nanoplatform for ovarian cancer therapy

Ovarian cancer remains one of the most challenging gynecological malignancies due to its rapid progression, recurrence, and chemoresistance. Here, we developed HA- ATPMS-1@CP1@BBR , a multifunctional nanoplatform integrating berberine (BBR) delivery with Ca ² ⁺ fluorescence sensing for potential ovarian cancer therapy and biological monitoring. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) was employed to determine the structure of a novel lanthanum (III)-based coordination polymer, denoted as CP1. After surface modification with hyaluronic acid (HA), organosilicon polymer (ATPMS), and a biocompatible small molecule, the resulting nanoplatform was utilized for BBR loading. The physicochemical properties, fluorescence response, drug-loading capacity, and release behavior of HA-ATPMS-1@CP1@BBR were systematically investigated. The nanoplatform exhibited selective, sensitive, and stable fluorescence responses toward Ca ² ⁺ under physiological conditions. In vitro studies using SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells demonstrated that HA-ATPMS-1@CP1@BBR reduced cell viability, decreased lactate production, downregulated the glycolysis-related gene HK2, and upregulated the pro-apoptotic gene Bax. Furthermore, nanoparticle encapsulation enhanced the anti-tumor activity of BBR compared with the free drug. Collectively, HA-ATPMS-1@CP1@BBR represents a multifunctional platform combining Ca ² ⁺ fluorescence sensing with BBR delivery, providing a potential strategy for further investigation of ovarian cancer therapy.