Triblock Copolymer Nanovesicles for pH-Responsive Targeted Delivery and Controlled Release of siRNA to Cancer Cells

Biomacromolecules. 2015 Jul 13;16(7):1924-37. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.5b00286. Epub 2015 Jun 2.

Abstract

New pH-responsive polymersomes for active anticancer oligonucleotide delivery were prepared from triblock copolymers. The delivery systems were formed by two terminal hydrophilic blocks, PEG and polyglycerolmethacrylate (poly-GMA), and a central weakly basic block, polyimidazole-hexyl methacrylate (poly-ImHeMA), which can complex with oligonucleotides and control vesicle formation/disassembly via pH variations. Targeted polymersomes were prepared by mixing folate-derivatized and underivatized copolymers. At pH 5, ds-DNA was found to complex with the pH-responsive copolymers at a N/P molar ratio above ∼2:1, which assisted the encapsulation of ds-DNA in the polymersomes, while low association was observed at pH 7.4. Cytotoxicity studies performed on folate receptor overexpressing KB and B16-F10 cells and low folate receptor expressing MCF-7 cells showed high tolerance of the polymersomes at up to 3 mg/mL concentration. Studies performed with red blood cells showed that at pH 5.0 the polymersomes have endosomolytic properties. Cytofluorimetric studies showed a 5.5-fold higher uptake of ds-DNA loaded folate-functional polymersomes in KB cells compared to nontargeted polymersomes. In addition, ds-DNA was found to be localized both in the nucleus and in the cytosol. The incubation of luciferase transfected B16-F10 cells with targeted polymersomes loaded with luciferase and Hsp90 expression silencing siRNAs yielded 31 and 23% knockdown in target protein expression, respectively.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Nucleus / genetics*
  • Cytosol / metabolism
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry
  • Folate Receptors, GPI-Anchored / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • KB Cells
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • Methacrylates / chemical synthesis
  • Methacrylates / chemistry
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Drug Carriers
  • Folate Receptors, GPI-Anchored
  • Methacrylates
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Polyethylene Glycols