Construction of a tumor microenvironment pH-responsive cleavable PEGylated hyaluronic acid nano-drug delivery system for colorectal cancer treatment

Biomater Sci. 2020 Mar 31;8(7):1885-1896. doi: 10.1039/c9bm01927h.

Abstract

In order to improve active tumor targeting, tumor cell uptake efficiency and circulation time of doxorubicin (DOX) in vivo, we constructed a cleavable PEGylated hyaluronic acid nano-drug delivery system (HA-mPEG2k-DOX) based on a tumor microenvironment pH-responsive imine bond. In this study, HA-mPEG2k-DOX can self-assemble into stable nanoparticles (HA-mPEG2k-DOX NPs) with a particle size of 50 nm. And the NPs can efficiently target CD44 positive CT26 cells and the pH-responsive cleavable PEG shell can be detached under weakly acidic environments and effectively promote the cellular uptake of HA-DOX NPs. Compared with DOX·HCl, the HA-mPEG2k-DOX NPs can significantly increase the DOX circulation time by 12.5 times, efficiently target the tumor tissues of CT26 tumor-bearing mice and remain for 72 hours. Therefore, the antitumor results in vivo indicated that the HA-mPEG2k-DOX NPs have the best anti-tumor effect while reducing the toxicity of the DOX. Overall, the cleavable PEGylated HA-mPEG2k-DOX NPs responding to pH-sensitive imine bonds, while actively targeting CD44-positive tumor cells, improve the dilemma of cellular uptake and delivery by the PEGylated nano delivery system.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Down-Regulation
  • Doxorubicin / administration & dosage*
  • Doxorubicin / chemistry
  • Doxorubicin / pharmacokinetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Hyaluronan Receptors / metabolism*
  • Hyaluronic Acid / chemistry*
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Nanoparticles
  • Particle Size
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry*
  • Rats
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Tumor Microenvironment
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Cd44 protein, mouse
  • Hyaluronan Receptors
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Doxorubicin
  • Hyaluronic Acid