Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most aggressive malignancy with a five year survival rate of <5%. The aberrant expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) in the tumor stroma forms a compact physical barrier, which that leads to insufficient extravasation and penetration of nanosized therapies. To overcome the severe resistance of PDAC to conventional therapies, a sequentially triggered nanoparticle (aptamer/cell-penetrating peptide-camptothecin prodrug, i.e., Apt/CPP-CPTD NPs) with tumor penetration and intelligent drug release profile is designed. An ECM component (tenescin-C) targeting aptamer (GBI-10) is modified onto stroma-permeable cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) for the in vivo CPP camouflage and PDAC-homing. In PDAC stroma, tenascin-C can detach GBI-10 from CPP and exposed CPP can facilitate further PDAC penetration and tumor cell endocytosis. After being endocytosed into PDAC cells, intracellular high redox potential can further trigger controlled chemodrug release. Apt/CPP-CPTD NPs show both deep penetration in vitro 3D PDAC spheroids and in vivo tumor sections. The relatively mild in vitro cytotoxicity and excellent in vivo antitumor efficacy proves the improved PDAC targeting drug delivery and decreased systemic toxicity. The design of ECM-redox sequentially triggered stroma permeable NPs may provide a practical approach for deep penetration of PDAC and enhanced drug delivery efficacy.
Keywords: drug delivery; extracellular matrix; pancreatic therapy; redox‐controlled release; tumor penetration.