Phenylboronic Acid Modification Augments the Lysosome Escape and Antitumor Efficacy of a Cylindrical Polymer Brush-Based Prodrug

J Am Chem Soc. 2021 Dec 15;143(49):20927-20938. doi: 10.1021/jacs.1c09741. Epub 2021 Dec 2.

Abstract

Timely lysosome escape is of paramount importance for endocytosed nanomedicines to avoid premature degradation under the acidic and hydrolytic conditions in lysosomes. Herein, we report an exciting finding that phenylboronic acid (PBA) modification can greatly facilitate the lysosome escape of cylindrical polymer brushes (CPBs). On the basis of our experimental results, we speculate that the mechanism is associated with the specific interactions of the PBA groups with lysosomal membrane proteins and hot shock proteins. The featured advantage of the PBA modification over the known lysosome escape strategies is that it does not cause significant adverse effects on the properties of the CPBs; on the contrary, it enhances remarkably their tumor accumulation and penetration. Furthermore, doxorubicin was conjugated to the PBA-modified CPBs with a drug loading content larger than 20%. This CPBs-based prodrug could eradicate the tumors established in mice by multiple intravenous administrations. This work provides a novel strategy for facilitating the lysosome escape of nanomaterials and demonstrates that PBA modification is an effective way to improve the overall properties of nanomedicines including the tumor therapeutic efficacy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Boronic Acids / chemical synthesis
  • Boronic Acids / chemistry*
  • Boronic Acids / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Doxorubicin / chemistry
  • Doxorubicin / pharmacology
  • Doxorubicin / therapeutic use
  • Drug Carriers / chemical synthesis
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry*
  • Drug Carriers / metabolism
  • Drug Liberation
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Humans
  • Lysosomes / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred ICR
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Polymethacrylic Acids / chemical synthesis
  • Polymethacrylic Acids / chemistry*
  • Polymethacrylic Acids / metabolism
  • Prodrugs / chemistry
  • Prodrugs / pharmacology
  • Prodrugs / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Boronic Acids
  • Drug Carriers
  • Polymethacrylic Acids
  • Prodrugs
  • polyglycidyl methacrylate
  • Doxorubicin
  • benzeneboronic acid