One-pot synthesis of acid-degradable polyphosphazene prodrugs for efficient tumor chemotherapy

J Mater Chem B. 2020 Dec 14;8(46):10540-10548. doi: 10.1039/d0tb01992e. Epub 2020 Oct 29.

Abstract

In order to improve the therapeutic efficacy and reduce the side effects of anticancer drugs, stimuli-responsive and biodegradable drug-delivery systems have attracted significant attention in the past three decades. Herein, we report acid-responsive and degradable polyphosphazene nano-prodrugs synthesized via a one-pot cross-linking reaction of 4-hydroxybenzhydrazide-modified doxorubicin (BMD) with hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene (HCCP). The phenol groups in the as-synthesized BMD exhibited a high reactivity towards HCCP and in the presence of a basic catalyst the determined drug loading ratio of the nanoparticles, denoted as HCCP-BMD, was up to 85.64%. Interestingly, the hydrazone bonds in BMD and the skeleton of polyphosphazene tended to break down in acidic environments, and the antitumor active drug DOX was found to be released in an acidic tumor microenvironment (pH ∼ 6.8 for extracellular, and pH ∼ 5.0 for endosomes and lysosomes). The resulting HCCP-BMD prodrug exhibited high cytotoxicity to HeLa cells and could effectively suppress tumor growth, with negligible damage to normal tissues. We therefore believe that this acid- degradable polyphosphazene prodrug may offer great potential in various biomedical fields.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents / metabolism*
  • Chemistry, Pharmaceutical / methods*
  • Doxorubicin / administration & dosage
  • Doxorubicin / chemical synthesis
  • Doxorubicin / metabolism
  • Drug Delivery Systems / methods*
  • Female
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • Organophosphorus Compounds / administration & dosage
  • Organophosphorus Compounds / chemical synthesis
  • Organophosphorus Compounds / metabolism*
  • Polymers / administration & dosage
  • Polymers / chemical synthesis
  • Polymers / metabolism*
  • Prodrugs / administration & dosage
  • Prodrugs / chemical synthesis
  • Prodrugs / metabolism*
  • Tumor Burden / drug effects
  • Tumor Burden / physiology
  • Tumor Microenvironment / drug effects*
  • Tumor Microenvironment / physiology

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Organophosphorus Compounds
  • Polymers
  • Prodrugs
  • poly(phosphazene)
  • Doxorubicin