Enhanced drug delivery to melanoma cells using PMPC-PDPA polymersomes

Abstract

We present the efficient and stable encapsulation of doxorubicin within pH sensitive polymeric vesicles (polymersomes) for intracellular and nuclear delivery to melanoma cells. We demonstrate that PMPC25-PDPA70 polymersomes can encapsulate doxorubicin for long periods of time without significant drug release. We demonstrate that empty polymersomes are non-toxic and that they are quickly and more efficiently internalised by melanoma cells compared to healthy cells. Encapsulated doxorubicin has a strong cytotoxic effect on both healthy and cancerous cells, but when encapsulated it had a preferential effect on melanoma cells indicating that this formulation can be used to achieve an enhanced drug delivery to cancerous cells rather than to the healthy surrounding cells.