Carboxy-terminal dendrimers with phenylalanine for a pH-sensitive delivery system into immune cells including T cells

J Mater Chem B. 2022 Apr 6;10(14):2463-2470. doi: 10.1039/d1tb01980e.

Abstract

Although T cells play important roles in various immune reactions, there are only a few reports on delivery systems into T cells. Our previous study showed that carboxy-terminal phenylalanine (Phe)-modified polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers have both temperature- and pH-sensitive properties, which are affected by the chemical structure. The self-assembled structures of Phe, observed in phenylketonuria, enhance the protein aggregation, the association with the cell membrane and the membrane permeability. In this study, we applied the Phe-modified dendrimers to a pH-sensitive drug delivery system into T cells. Dendrimers with different amino acids and acid anhydrides were synthesized, and their pH-responsive association with T cells and their subsets was investigated. The dendrimers modified with Phe and cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid (CHex) showed higher uptake into various cells, including Jurkat cells, CD3+ T cells, CD3 + CD4+ helper T cells and CD3 + CD8+ killer T cells. These dendrimers were internalized into T cells via endocytosis, and their cellular uptake was enhanced under weak acidic conditions (pH 6.5). Our results showed that Phe- and CHex-modified dendrimers have a delivery potential to T cells and their subsets, which may be useful for cancer immunotherapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Membrane Permeability
  • Dendrimers* / chemistry
  • Dendrimers* / pharmacology
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Phenylalanine / chemistry
  • Phenylalanine / pharmacology

Substances

  • Dendrimers
  • Phenylalanine