Facile Construction of pH- and Redox-Responsive Micelles from a Biodegradable Poly(β-hydroxyl amine) for Drug Delivery

Biomacromolecules. 2016 Jan 11;17(1):291-300. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.5b01394. Epub 2015 Dec 28.

Abstract

Here we demonstrate a type of pH and reduction dual-sensitive biodegradable micelles, which were self-assembled by a cationic polymer in an aqueous solution. Due to tumor cells or tissues showing low pH and high reduction concentration, these micelles possessed specific tumor targetability and maximal drug-release controllability inside tumor cells upon changes in physical and chemical environments, but presented good stability at physiological conditions. CCK-8 assay showed that the DOX-loaded micelles had a similar cytotoxicity for MCF-7 tumor cells as free DOX, and blank micelles had a very low cytotoxicity to the cells. Fluorescent microscopy observation revealed that the drug-loaded micelles could be quickly internalized by endosomes to inhibit cancer cell growth. These results indicated these biodegradable micelles, as a novel and effective pH- and redox-responsive nanocarrier, have a potential to improve drug delivery and enhance the antitumor efficacy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / pharmacology*
  • Biodegradation, Environmental
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Doxorubicin / pharmacology*
  • Drug Carriers / chemical synthesis
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry
  • Drug Carriers / pharmacology*
  • Drug Liberation / physiology*
  • Endocytosis
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Hydroxylamines / chemistry*
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • Micelles*
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Oxidation-Reduction

Substances

  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
  • Drug Carriers
  • Hydroxylamines
  • Micelles
  • Doxorubicin