Supramolecular Combination Chemotherapy: Cucurbit[8]uril Complex Enhanced Platinum Drug Infiltration and Modified Nanomechanical Property of Colorectal Cancer Cells

Abstract

Combination chemotherapy is recognized as a vital medical treatment for cancer, but it has not achieved clinical ideal effects of combination therapy. Herein, we designed a supramolecular combination chemotherapy strategy based on cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]), which can be facilely assembled into dual platinum drugs. Interestingly, employing the CB[8] carrier led to a greater than 10-fold intracellular Pt content compared to that of dual drugs at 4 h, and the CB[8] complex (CLE) can enhance the infiltration of platinum drugs in colorectal tumor cells tremendously. The platinum drugs can be released from CLE through consuming more tumor biomarker spermidine. Through analyzing the nanomechanical property of the colorectal tumor cellular surface by bioscope AFM, it was revealed that CLE modified the property by decreasing the adhesion and increasing the stiffness. This study provided a facile and sensitive strategy for improving combination chemotherapy by supramolecular materials.

Recent Progress of Supramolecular Chemotherapy Based on Host–Guest Interactions

“…[196] Only one guest molecule can be bound in the cavities of CB( 5), CB(6), and CB [7], while the larger cavity of CB [8] allows for the binding of two guest molecules. [197] To date, a series of supramolecular assem-blies based on CB[n]s have been developed and applied in cancer therapy. [198,199] The challenge of cancer chemotherapy lies in effectively killing tumor cells while protecting normal cells, necessitating the improvement of the targeting abilities of supramolecular therapeutics toward cancer cells.…”

“…[ 196 ] Only one guest molecule can be bound in the cavities of CB(5), CB(6), and CB[7], while the larger cavity of CB[8] allows for the binding of two guest molecules. [ 197 ] To date, a series of supramolecular assemblies based on CB[ n ]s have been developed and applied in cancer therapy. [ 198,199 ]…”

PEGylated Paclitaxel Nanomedicine Meets 3D Confinement: Cytotoxicity and Cell Behaviors

“…Nanoparticles (NPs) have a wide range of applications, including catalysis, medicine, and sensors [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]. In medicine, nanomedicines can overcome the limitations of small-molecule drugs, such as strong hydrophobicity, poor bioavailability, and significant side effects [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ]. Some nanomedicines, such as Abraxane and Genexol-PM, which are based on paclitaxel (PTX), are widely used in clinics to treat various cancers [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ].…”