Fabricating an intelligent cell-like nano-prodrug via hierarchical self-assembly based on the DNA skeleton for suppressing lung metastasis of breast cancer

Biomater Sci. 2019 Aug 20;7(9):3652-3661. doi: 10.1039/c9bm00630c.

Abstract

Cancer metastasis is a major cause of high mortality in breast cancer. Despite the progress achieved in nanomaterial-based treatments, the cure rate remains unsatisfactory, owing to their poor biocompatibility and non-specific recognition. Inspired by the cell-mimetic strategy, in this work, we fabricated an intelligent cell-like nano-prodrug (Dox-MPK@MDL) for lung metastasis of breast cancer. Specifically, a DNA tetrahedron dendrimer was selected to act as a rigid internal cytoskeleton, and then sequentially coated with a liposome and macrophage membrane to form cell-like Dox-MPK@MDL via hierarchical self-assembly. Here, it should be noted that pH-sensitive Dox-MPK prodrugs were synthesized and inserted into the DNA-based cytoskeleton (the Dox group is an intercalator of double stranded DNA) in advance for the next anti-metastatic therapy. Our results show that Dox-MPK@MDL specifically targeted the sites of lung metastasis via the biomimetic metastasis-homing effects and intelligently triggered Dox release at the metastatic cancer cells, thereby leading to the significant inhibition of lung metastasis. All these features help to enhance the anti-metastatic therapy efficiency of Dox while maximally reducing side-effects.

MeSH terms

  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / chemical synthesis
  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / chemistry
  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / pharmacology*
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • DNA, Neoplasm / drug effects*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Doxorubicin / administration & dosage
  • Doxorubicin / chemistry
  • Doxorubicin / pharmacology*
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary
  • Molecular Structure
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Optical Imaging
  • Particle Size
  • Prodrugs / administration & dosage
  • Prodrugs / chemical synthesis
  • Prodrugs / chemistry
  • Prodrugs / pharmacology*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
  • DNA, Neoplasm
  • Prodrugs
  • Doxorubicin