Spatiotemporally programmable surface engineered nanoparticles for effective anticancer drug delivery

Abstract

Surface engineered nanoparticles (NPs) are fabricated from polycaprolactone-polyethylenimine-folic acid (PCL-PEI-FA) and polycaprolactone-S-S-polyethylene glycol (PCL-S-S-PEG) copolymers. FESEM reveals the core-shell structure of these NPs of about 230 nm size. It is assumed that the inner cores of these NPs are composed of PCL, while the outer shells are adorned with PEG and folic acid, introducing a stealthy nature and specific targeting capability. Moreover, the disulfide bonds in the PCL-S-S-PEG copolymers provide a reduction-induced degradation characteristic in these NPs. Cell line experiments demonstrate the enhanced endocytosis and cytotoxicity of these NPs. Thus PCL-PEI-FA/PCL-S-S-PEG NPs could be a better candidate for the tumor specific delivery of hydrophobic drugs.

Keywords: core-shell structures; long circulation; nanoparticles, polycaprolactone; reduction induced degradation.