Photo-Responsive Micelles with Controllable and Co-Release of Carbon Monoxide, Formaldehyde and Doxorubicin

Abstract

Endogenous gases have attracted much attention due to their potent applications in disease therapies. The combined therapy, including gaseous molecules and other medicines that can create synergistic effects, is a new way for future treatment. However, due to the gaseous state, gas utilization in medical service is still limited. To pave the way for future usage, in this work, an amphiphilic block copolymer containing nitrobenzyl ether, 3-hydroxyflavone (3-HF) derivatives and ether linker was constructed. The nitrobenzyl ether group endows the polymer with a photo-responsive character. Upon light illumination, 3-HF derivatives can be triggered for carbon monoxide (CO) release. The ether linker can also be released emitting formaldehyde (FA). The self-assembly induced micelle can encompass medicine, e.g., doxorubicin (DOX), into it and a controlled release of DOX can be realized upon light illumination. As far as we know, there is no report on the combination donor of CO and DOX and this is the first attempt on the co-release of CO, FA and DOX.

A Red-Light-Responsive DASA–Polymer with High Water Stability for Controlled Release

“…Before synthesizing polymers, we first determine whether the compounds (1)-( 5) are successfully prepared using NMR and mass spectroscopy. Their 1 H, 13 C, 19 F NMR, and mass spectra are shown in Figures S1-S4. Our results indicate that they have been successfully synthesized.…”

“…Recordings of 1 H, 19 F, and 13 C NMR spectra were conducted using a 400 MHz Bruker AV III HD spectrometer at 25 • C with tetramethylsilane as the internal standard. The mass spectra were obtained using a Q-Exactive plus mass spectrometer (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA).…”

“…Compound ( 1) was synthesized according to our previously published work [4]. 1 H, 13 C, and 19 F NMR spectra of compound (1) are presented in Figure S1.…”

“…To construct photoresponsive polymer nanomedicines, researchers often incorporate light-responsive compounds, such as azobenzene [11], o-nitrobenzyl ester [11][12][13], coumarin [14,15], and spiroxamine derivatives [16], into the molecular structure of polymer chains. However, their responsive wavelengths are generally in the ultraviolet (UV) region, necessitating the use of UV light sources for drug release of the corresponding nanomedicines.…”

Supramolecular nanoarchitectonics of propionylated polyrotaxanes with bulky nitrobenzyl stoppers for light-triggered drug release

“…Light irradiationinduced release of drugs is achieved using amphiphilic diblock copolymer micelles comprising hydrophilic polymers and hydrophobic polymers containing photocleavable groups in the side chains. [26][27][28][29][30] However, these systems require the cleavage of multiple photocleavable groups to collapse the micelles and release drugs. In contrast, Pr-PD-PRX nanoparticles can more efficiently release drugs than photoresponsive diblock copolymer micelles because Pr-PD-PRX nanoparticles immediately collapse by the cleavage of only a single site of UV-cleavable stoppers.…”