Simultaneous Delivery of Doxorubicin and Protease Inhibitor Derivative to Solid Tumors via Star-Shaped Polymer Nanomedicines Overcomes P-gp- and STAT3-Mediated Chemoresistance

Biomacromolecules. 2022 Jun 13;23(6):2522-2535. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.2c00256. Epub 2022 May 18.

Abstract

The derivative of protease inhibitor ritonavir (5-methyl-4-oxohexanoic acid ritonavir ester; RD) was recently recognized as a potent P-gp inhibitor and cancerostatic drug inhibiting the proteasome and STAT3 signaling. Therefore, we designed high-molecular-weight HPMA copolymer conjugates with a PAMAM dendrimer core bearing both doxorubicin (Dox) and RD (Star-RD + Dox) to increase the circulation half-life to maximize simultaneous delivery of Dox and RD into the tumor. Star-RD inhibited P-gp activity, potently sensitizing both low- and high-P-gp-expressing cancer cells to the cytostatic and proapoptotic activity of Dox in vitro. Star-RD + Dox possessed higher cytostatic and proapoptotic activities compared to Star-Dox and the equivalent mixture of Star-Dox and Star-RD in vitro. Star-RD + Dox efficiently inhibited STAT3 signaling and induced caspase-3 activation and DNA fragmentation in cancer cells in vivo. Importantly, Star-RD + Dox was found to have superior antitumor activity in terms of tumor growth inhibition and increased survival of mice bearing P-gp-expressing tumors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cytostatic Agents*
  • Doxorubicin / pharmacology
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Mice
  • Nanomedicine
  • Neoplasms*
  • Polymers
  • Protease Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Ritonavir

Substances

  • Cytostatic Agents
  • Polymers
  • Protease Inhibitors
  • Doxorubicin
  • Ritonavir