Single Functional Group Platform for Multistimuli Responsivities: Tertiary Amine for CO2/pH/ROS-Triggered Cargo Release in Nanocarriers

Biomacromolecules. 2023 Sep 11;24(9):4064-4077. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c00434. Epub 2023 Aug 30.

Abstract

The design of multistimuli-responsive soft nanoparticles (NPs) often presents synthetic complexities and limited breadth in exploiting changes surrounding physiological environments. Nanocarriers that could collectively take advantage of several endogenous stimuli can offer a powerful tool in nanomedicine. Herein, we have capitalized on the chemical versatility of a single tertiary amine to construct miktoarm polymer-based nanocarriers that respond to dissolved CO2, varied pH, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and ROS + CO2. Curcumin (Cur), an anti-inflammatory phytopharmaceutic, was loaded into micelles, and we validated the sensitivity of the tertiary amine in tuning Cur release. An in vitro evaluation indicated that Cur encapsulation strongly suppressed its toxicity at high concentrations, significantly inhibited nigericin-induced secretion of interleukin-1β by THP-1 macrophages, and the proportion of M2/M1 (anti-inflammatory/pro-inflammatory macrophages) was higher for Cur-loaded NPs than for free Cur. Our approach highlights the potential of a simple-by-design strategy in expanding the scope of polymeric NPs in drug delivery.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carbon Dioxide*
  • Curcumin* / pharmacology
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Macrophages
  • Reactive Oxygen Species

Substances

  • Carbon Dioxide
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Curcumin