Reduction-sensitive, robust vesicles with a non-covalently modifiable surface as a multifunctional drug-delivery platform

Small. 2010 Jul 5;6(13):1430-41. doi: 10.1002/smll.201000293.

Abstract

The design and synthesis of a novel reduction-sensitive, robust, and biocompatible vesicle (SSCB[6]VC) are reported, which is self-assembled from an amphiphilic cucurbit[6]uril (CB[6]) derivative that contains disulfide bonds between hexaethylene glycol units and a CB[6] core. The remarkable features of SSCB[6]VC include: 1) facile, non-destructive, non-covalent, and modular surface modification using exceptionally strong host-guest chemistry; 2) high structural stability; 3) facile internalization into targeted cells by receptor-mediated endocytosis, and 4) efficient triggered release of entrapped drugs in a reducing environment such as cytoplasm. Furthermore, a significantly increased cytotoxicity of the anticancer drug doxorubicin to cancer cells is demonstrated using doxorubicin-loaded SSCB[6]VC, the surface of which is decorated with functional moieties such as a folate-spermidine conjugate and fluorescein isothiocyanate-spermidine conjugate as targeting ligand and fluorescence imaging probe, respectively. SSCB[6]VC with such unique features can be used as a highly versatile multifunctional platform for targeted drug delivery, which may find useful applications in cancer therapy. This novel strategy based on supramolecular chemistry and the unique properties of CB[6] can be extended to design smart multifunctional materials for biomedical applications including gene delivery.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Death / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Doxorubicin / pharmacology
  • Drug Delivery Systems / methods*
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate / chemistry
  • Folic Acid / chemistry
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Oxidation-Reduction / drug effects
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence
  • Spermidine / chemistry
  • Surface Properties
  • Unilamellar Liposomes / chemistry*

Substances

  • Ligands
  • Unilamellar Liposomes
  • Doxorubicin
  • Folic Acid
  • Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate
  • Spermidine