Enzyme-Instructed Supramolecular Self-Assembly with Anticancer Activity

Abstract

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death, which has continuously stimulated the development of numerous functional biomaterials with anticancer activities. Herein is reviewed one recent trend of biomaterials focusing on the advances in enzyme-instructed supramolecular self-assembly (EISA) with anticancer activity. EISA relies on enzymatic transformations to convert designed small-molecular precursors into corresponding amphiphilic residues that can form assemblies in living systems. EISA has shown some advantages in controlling cell fate from three aspects. 1) Based on the abnormal activity of specific enzymes, EISA can differentiate cancer cells from normal cells. In contrast to the classical ligand-receptor recognition, the targeting capability of EISA relies on dynamic control of the self-assembly process. 2) The interactions between EISA and cellular components directly disrupt cellular processes or pathways, resulting in cell death phenotypes. 3) EISA spatiotemporally controls the distribution of therapeutic agents, which boosts drug delivery efficiency. Therefore, with regard to the development of EISA, the aim is to provide a perspective on the future directions of research into EISA as anticancer theranostics.

Keywords: biomaterials; cancer; cell fate; enzymes; self-assembly.