Dual stimuli-responsive biotinylated polymer-drug conjugate for dual drug delivery

J Mater Chem B. 2024 Nov 20;12(45):11826-11840. doi: 10.1039/d4tb01762e.

Abstract

Stimuli-responsive nanoscale polymer-drug conjugates are one of the most promising alternatives in the realm of advanced therapeutics, rendering several characteristics such as spatio-temporal control over drug release, reduced off-target toxicity, enhanced bioavailability, and longer blood circulation time of the drug. Fostered by the aforementioned conceptualization, our quest to develop an ideal polymer-drug conjugate has originated the present investigation of developing a reactive oxygen species (ROS) and esterase-responsive self-assembled polymer-drug (chlorambucil, CBL) conjugate with biotin pendants (DP2) for cancer cell targeting, surrogating another antineoplastic drug, doxorubicin (DOX) via physical encapsulation (DP2@DOX). The ROS and esterase trigger not only released the covalently stitched CBL but also resulted in DOX release by dismantling the amphiphilic balance of the nanoaggregates. Biotinylation-mediated enhancement of cellular uptake of DP2@DOX was reflected in the synergistic anticancer activity of both the drugs (CBL and DOX) in HeLa cells (biotin receptor-positive cells) compared to HEK 293T cells (biotin receptor-negative cells). Furthermore, the selective internalization of the fluorophore-tagged DOX-loaded polymer (DP4@DOX) in HeLa cells compared to HEK 293T cells was confirmed by confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. In summary, the present investigation demonstrates a state-of-the-art self-assembled polymer-drug conjugate as a next-generation dual stimuli-responsive drug delivery vehicle.

MeSH terms

  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / chemistry
  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Biotin / chemistry
  • Biotinylation
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Chlorambucil / chemistry
  • Chlorambucil / pharmacology
  • Doxorubicin* / chemistry
  • Doxorubicin* / pharmacology
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Drug Liberation
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • HEK293 Cells
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Particle Size
  • Polymers / chemistry
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism

Substances

  • Doxorubicin
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Polymers
  • Chlorambucil
  • Drug Carriers
  • Biotin
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic