Nanomized tumor-microenvironment-active NIR fluorescent prodrug for ensuring synchronous occurrences of drug release and fluorescence tracing

J Mater Chem B. 2019 Mar 7;7(9):1503-1509. doi: 10.1039/c8tb03188f. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Abstract

Improving the bioavailability and tumor-targeting ability of a prodrug, as well as monitoring its active ingredient release in vivo, is still a challenge in cancer diagnosis and therapy. Herein, a specific nanomized tumor-microenvironment-active near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent DCM-S-GEM/PEG prodrug was developed as a potent monitoring platform, wherein we conjugated antitumor drug gemcitabine (GEM) and NIR fluorescent chromophore dicyanomethylene-4H-pyran (DCM) via glutathione (GSH)-activatable disulfide linker and encapsulated DCM-S-GEM into an amphiphilic polymer DSPE-mPEG by self-assembly. The nanomized DCM-S-GEM/PEG prodrug exhibits excellent photostability and high biocompatibility, significantly improving the therapeutic efficacy toward lung tumor cells with fewer side-effects toward normal cells. Furthermore, when compared with the standalone DCM-S-GEM prodrug, the micellization with diblock DSPE-mPEG avoids fast metabolism, facilitates the accumulation of drugs in lung tumor tissues, displays longer tumor retention, and realizes precise drug release in lung tumors. The nanomized DCM-S-GEM/PEG prodrug can be developed as a promising tool to monitor prodrug delivery and activation processes in vivo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • A549 Cells
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / metabolism
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Deoxycytidine / analogs & derivatives
  • Deoxycytidine / chemistry
  • Deoxycytidine / metabolism
  • Deoxycytidine / pharmacology
  • Deoxycytidine / therapeutic use
  • Drug Liberation
  • Gemcitabine
  • Glutathione / chemistry
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Polymers / chemistry
  • Prodrugs / chemistry*
  • Prodrugs / metabolism
  • Prodrugs / pharmacology
  • Prodrugs / therapeutic use
  • Pyrans / chemistry
  • Tumor Microenvironment*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Polymers
  • Prodrugs
  • Pyrans
  • dicyanomethylene-4H-pyran
  • Deoxycytidine
  • Glutathione
  • Gemcitabine