Hypoxia-Sensitive Zwitterionic Vehicle for Tumor-Specific Drug Delivery through Antifouling-Based Stable Biotransport Alongside PDT-Sensitized Controlled Release

Biomacromolecules. 2021 May 10;22(5):2233-2247. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.1c00301. Epub 2021 Apr 26.

Abstract

A hypoxia-sensitive zwitterionic vehicle, DHigh-PEI-(A+P), with the ability for antifouling-mediated, stable biotransport and a photodynamic therapy (PDT)-sensitized hypoxic response for spatiotemporal controlled drug release, was developed for the tumor-specific delivery of chemotherapeutics and biomacromolecules. The amphiphilic DHigh-PEI-(A+P) was constructed from a betaine monomer (DMAAPS), a photosensitizer (PpIX), and an azobenzene-4,4'-dicarboxylic acid-modified polyethylenimine. Herein paclitaxel (PTX) was selected as a common model drug to verify the functions of the designed polymer. First, DHigh-PEI-(A+P) was demonstrated to spontaneously coassemble with PTX in aqueous solution with high drug loading (>35%). The desirable antifouling ability of DHigh-PEI-(A+P) was independently verified by efficient 4T1 endocytosis in serum alongside systemic tumor targeting. Furthermore, PpIX-mediated PDT was verified to aggravate and homogenize a hypoxic microenvironment at the cell and tissue levels for a sharp responsive disassembly of DHigh-PEI-(A+P) and thus a robust drug release in a well-controlled manner. As a result, DHigh-PEI-(A+P) amplified the therapeutic outcome of PTX on orthotopic 4T1 mouse models with minimal collateral damage. We proposed that DHigh-PEI-(A+P) may serve as a tailor-designed universal vehicle for the tumor-specific delivery of drugs with distinct physicochemical properties.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biofouling* / prevention & control
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Delayed-Action Preparations
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Drug Liberation
  • Hypoxia
  • Mice
  • Nanoparticles*
  • Neoplasms*
  • Paclitaxel
  • Photochemotherapy*
  • Tumor Microenvironment

Substances

  • Delayed-Action Preparations
  • Paclitaxel