Tumor pH-triggered "charge conversion" nanocarriers with on-demand drug release for precise cancer therapy

J Mater Chem B. 2020 Oct 21;8(40):9351-9361. doi: 10.1039/d0tb01692f.

Abstract

Combined X-ray-induced photodynamic therapy (X-PDT) and chemotherapy are of great interest for tumor treatment, but their outcome is still hindered by insufficient drug delivery without tumor specificity and the difficulty of switching to chemotherapy during the X-PDT process. Herein, we report an efficient strategy for preparing a nanocarrier, DANPVP&DOX, with slight-acidity-induced charge conversion and hypoxia-motivated doxorubicin (DOX) release properties to achieve a more precise and synchronous therapeutic effect. Upon a change in the extracellular pH (pHe) in the tumor matrix, the surface charge of DANPVP&DOX converted from negative to positive via dimethyl maleate degradation. Following the increased internalization by tumoral cells, exposure of verteporfin (VP) in DANPVP&DOX to low-dose X-ray radiation resulted in O2 consumption in the cytoplasm to produce cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS), which caused cell killing. Moreover, the hypoxic conditions formed in the tumor area specifically promoted DANPVP&DOX dissociation and on-demand DOX release. Consequently, DANPVP&DOX significantly increased the therapeutic efficacy through X-PDT and cascade chemotherapy. More importantly, this strategy could potentially be extended to various therapeutic agents other than anticancer drugs for precise drug delivery and cancer treatment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Doxorubicin / chemistry
  • Doxorubicin / pharmacokinetics
  • Doxorubicin / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Carriers / chemical synthesis
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry*
  • Drug Carriers / pharmacokinetics
  • Drug Liberation
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Organophosphates / chemical synthesis
  • Organophosphates / chemistry
  • Organophosphates / pharmacokinetics
  • Photochemotherapy
  • Photosensitizing Agents / chemistry
  • Photosensitizing Agents / pharmacokinetics
  • Photosensitizing Agents / radiation effects
  • Photosensitizing Agents / therapeutic use
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemical synthesis
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry
  • Polyethylene Glycols / pharmacokinetics
  • Singlet Oxygen / metabolism
  • Verteporfin / chemistry
  • Verteporfin / pharmacokinetics
  • Verteporfin / radiation effects
  • Verteporfin / therapeutic use
  • X-Rays
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Drug Carriers
  • Organophosphates
  • Photosensitizing Agents
  • Verteporfin
  • Singlet Oxygen
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Doxorubicin