Disulfide/α-Amide-Bridged Doxorubicin Dimeric Prodrug: Effect of Aggregation Structures on pH/GSH Dual-Triggered Drug Release

Langmuir. 2024 May 28;40(21):11098-11105. doi: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.4c00663. Epub 2024 May 13.

Abstract

Disulfide bonding has attracted intense interest in the tumor intracellular microenvironment-activated drug delivery systems (DDSs) in the last decades. Although various molecular structures of redox-responsive disulfide-containing DDSs have been developed, no investigation was reported on the effect of aggregation structures. Here, the effect of aggregation structures on pH/GSH dual-triggered drug release was investigated with the simplest pH/GSH dual-triggered doxorubicin-based drug self-delivery system (DSDS), the disulfide/α-amide-bridged doxorubicin dimeric prodrug (DDOX), as a model. By fast precipitation or slow self-assembly, DDOX nanoparticles were obtained. With similar diameters, they exhibited different pH/GSH dual-triggered drug releases, demonstrating the effect of aggregation structures. The π-π stacking in different degrees was revealed by the UV-vis, fluorescence, and BET analysis of the DDOX nanoparticles. The effect of the π-π stacking between the dimeric prodrug and its activated products on drug release was also explored with the molecular simulation approach. The finding opens new ideas in the design of high-performance DDSs for future precise tumor treatment.

MeSH terms

  • Amides / chemistry
  • Dimerization
  • Disulfides* / chemistry
  • Doxorubicin* / chemistry
  • Doxorubicin* / pharmacology
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry
  • Drug Liberation*
  • Glutathione* / chemistry
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Prodrugs* / chemistry
  • Prodrugs* / pharmacology

Substances

  • Prodrugs
  • Doxorubicin
  • Disulfides
  • Glutathione
  • Amides
  • Drug Carriers