Redox potential ultrasensitive nanoparticle for the targeted delivery of camptothecin to HER2-positive cancer cells

Mol Pharm. 2014 Jun 2;11(6):1897-905. doi: 10.1021/mp5000482. Epub 2014 May 9.

Abstract

Ideal "smart" nanoparticles for drug delivery should enhance therapeutic efficacy without introducing side effects. To achieve that, we developed a drug delivery system (HCN) based on a polymer-drug conjugate of poly[2-(pyridin-2-yldisulfanyl)]-graft-poly(ethylene glycol) and camptothecin with an intracellularly cleavable linker and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) targeting ligands. An in vitro drug release study found that HCN was stable in the physiological environment and supersensitive to the stimulus of elevated intracellular redox potential, releasing all payloads in less than 30 min. Furthermore, confocal microscopy revealed that HCN could specifically enter HER2-positive cancer cells. As a consequence, HCN could effectively kill HER2-positive cancer cells while not affecting HER2-negative cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Camptothecin / administration & dosage*
  • Camptothecin / chemistry*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Doxorubicin / administration & dosage
  • Drug Delivery Systems / methods
  • Female
  • HCT116 Cells
  • Humans
  • KB Cells
  • Nanoparticles / administration & dosage*
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Polyethylene Glycols / administration & dosage
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry
  • Polymers / administration & dosage
  • Polymers / chemistry
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / genetics*

Substances

  • Polymers
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Doxorubicin
  • ERBB2 protein, human
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • Camptothecin