The programmed site-specific delivery of the angiostatin sunitinib and chemotherapeutic paclitaxel for highly efficient tumor treatment

J Mater Chem B. 2019 Aug 14;7(32):4953-4962. doi: 10.1039/c9tb01159e.

Abstract

Malignant solid tumors are composed of tumor cells, stromal cells and the complex networks of the tumor microenvironment (TME), which is the underlying cause of the unsatisfactory outcome of conventional chemotherapy approaches only aimed at cancer cell killing. In this study, a novel TME-responsive polymeric micelle has been developed for the programmed site-specific delivery of the angiostatin sunitinib and chemotherapeutic paclitaxel (PTX). The pH-sensitive micelle core encapsulates PTX, while β-cyclodextrin molecules being conjugated to the micelle shell via matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) sensitive peptides include sunitinib. Following the pH and MMP-2 dual sensitive structure design, the micelle may sequentially release sunitinib inside the tumor extracellular matrix and PTX into cancer cells through responding to enriched MMP-2 levels and decreased pH, respectively. Consequently, the anti-angiogenesis effect of sunitinib and tumor cell-killing effect of PTX synergize, resulting in highly efficient tumor treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / pharmacokinetics
  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry*
  • Drug Liberation
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Micelles
  • Paclitaxel / chemistry*
  • Paclitaxel / pharmacokinetics
  • Paclitaxel / pharmacology*
  • Sunitinib / chemistry*
  • Sunitinib / pharmacokinetics
  • Sunitinib / pharmacology*
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Tumor Microenvironment / drug effects
  • beta-Cyclodextrins / chemistry

Substances

  • Angiogenesis Inhibitors
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Drug Carriers
  • Micelles
  • beta-Cyclodextrins
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 2
  • Paclitaxel
  • Sunitinib