Bionic natural small molecule co-assemblies towards targeted and synergistic Chemo/PDT/CDT

Shiyao Fu; Mingao Wang; Bin Li; Xu Li; Jianjun Cheng; Haitian Zhao; Hua Zhang; Aijun Dong; Weihong Lu; Xin Yang

doi:10.1186/s40824-023-00380-z

Bionic natural small molecule co-assemblies towards targeted and synergistic Chemo/PDT/CDT

Biomater Res. 2023 May 9;27(1):43. doi: 10.1186/s40824-023-00380-z.

Authors

Shiyao Fu^#^{1

2}, Mingao Wang^#³, Bin Li^#⁴, Xu Li⁵, Jianjun Cheng², Haitian Zhao^{1

6}, Hua Zhang², Aijun Dong², Weihong Lu^{1

6}, Xin Yang^{7

8

9}

Affiliations

¹ School of Medicine and Health, Harbin Institute of Technology, No. 92, West Dazhi Street, Nangang District, Harbin, 150001, China.
² School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, No.92, West Dazhi Street, Nangang District, Harbin, 150001, China.
³ Department of Nephrology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, No. 23 Youzheng Street, Nangang District, Harbin, 150001, China.
⁴ Academician Workstation, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1088 Meiling Street, Wanli District, Nanchang, 330004, No, China.
⁵ Department of Ophthalmology, the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Nanguan District, No. 4026 Yatai Street, Changchun, 130041, China.
⁶ Chongqing Research Institute, Harbin Institute of Technology, Yubei District, No. 188 Jihuayuan South Road, Chongqing, 401135, China.
⁷ School of Medicine and Health, Harbin Institute of Technology, No. 92, West Dazhi Street, Nangang District, Harbin, 150001, China. yangxin@hit.edu.cn.
⁸ School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, No.92, West Dazhi Street, Nangang District, Harbin, 150001, China. yangxin@hit.edu.cn.
⁹ Chongqing Research Institute, Harbin Institute of Technology, Yubei District, No. 188 Jihuayuan South Road, Chongqing, 401135, China. yangxin@hit.edu.cn.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Background: Multi-component nano-delivery systems based on chemotherapy (chemo)- photodynamic therapy (PDT)- chemodynamic therapy (CDT) have gained increased attention as a promising strategy to improve clinical outcomes in cancer treatment. However, there remains a challenge in developing biodegradable, biocompatible, less toxic, yet highly efficient multicomponent nanobased drug delivery systems (DDS). Here, our study presents the screening and development of a novel DDS based on co-assemblies natural small molecule (NSMs). These molecules (oleanolic acid, and betulinic acid) are combined with photosensitizers Chlorine6 (Ce6) and Cu²⁺ that are encapsulated by tumor cell membranes. This nanocarrier encapsulated in tumor cell membranes achieved good tumor targeting and a significant improvement in tumor accumulation.

Methods: A reprecipitation method was used to prepare the co-assembled nanocarrier, followed by the introduction of Cu^{2 +} into the DDS (OABACe6 NPs). Then, by wrapping the surface of NPs with the cell membranes of 4T1 which is a kind of mouse breast cancer cells (CM@OABACe6/Cu NPs). and analysis of its structure and size distribution with UV-Vis, XPS, FT-IR, SEM, TEM, and DLS. The synergistic effects of in vitro chemotherapy, CDT and PDT and targeting were also validated by cellular and animal studies.

Results: It was shown that CM@OABACe6/Cu NPs achieved good tumor targeting and a significant improvement in tumor accumulation. In the composite nano-assembly, the NSMs work together with the Ce6 to provide effective and safe chemo and PDT. Moreover, the effect of reduced PDT due to the depletion of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by excess glutathione (GSH) in the tumor can be counteracted when Cu^{2 +} is introduced. More importantly, it also confers CDT through a Fenton-like catalytic reaction with H₂O overexpressed at the tumor site.

Conclusions: By constructing CM@OABACe6/Cu NPs with homologous targeting, we create a triple synergistic platform for cancer therapy using PDT, chemo, and CDT. We propose here a novel combinatorial strategy for designing more naturally co-assembled small molecules, especially for the development of multifunctional synergistic therapies that utilize NSMs.

Keywords: 4T1 cell membrane; Co-assemblies; Synergistic cancer treatment; Triterpenoids.

Grants and funding

31972040/National Natural Science Foundation of China