pH-Activatable Charge-Reversal Polymer-Based Nanocarriers for Targeted Delivery of Antihepatoma Compound

Langmuir. 2023 Sep 26;39(38):13588-13598. doi: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c01604. Epub 2023 Sep 13.

Abstract

Chemotherapy is one of the available cancer treatments which has been successfully employed to prolong the survival of cancer patients. However, it remains a major challenge to develop effective chemotherapeutic agents by reducing off-target toxicity, improving bioavailability, and effectively prolonging blood circulation. The pH profile of tumor cells is abnormal to that of normal cells, making it a potential breakthrough for designing effective chemotherapeutic drug agents. Here, the pH-activatable charge-reversal supramolecular nanocarriers, named MI7-β-CD/SA NPs, were prepared through a simple and "green" constructive process. MI7-β-CD/SA NPs possess both pH-induced charge-reversal and disassembly properties that were exploited to investigate the loading, delivery, and pH-responsive controlled release of the antitumor compound celastrol (CSL). CSL@MI7-β-CD/SA NPs displayed low hemolysis, good biocompatibility, and targeted uptake. Furthermore, CSL@MI7-β-CD/SA NPs exhibited superior apoptosis rates against SMMC-7721 cell lines compared with CSL, when CSL@MI7-β-CD/SA NPs and CSL were administered at a mass concentration of 5.0 μg/mL, i.e., the CSL content in CSL@MI7-β-CD/SA NPs was relatively lower than that of intact CSL. We expected that MI7-β-CD/SA NPs featuring pH-triggered charge reversal could offer a promising controlled release strategy that would then facilitate the clinical conversion of antitumor drugs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis*
  • Biological Transport
  • Delayed-Action Preparations
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Polymers*

Substances

  • Delayed-Action Preparations
  • Polymers