Tumor Microenvironment ROS/pH Cascade-Responsive Supramolecular Nanoplatform with ROS Regeneration Property for Enhanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Therapy

Abstract

The low targeted drug delivery efficiency, including poor tumor accumulation and penetration and uncontrolled drug release, leads to the failure of cancer therapy. Herein, a multifunctional supramolecular nanoplatform loading triptolide (TPL/ PBAE TK @GA NPs) was fabricated via the host−guest interaction between glycyrrhetinicacid-modified poly(ethylene glycol)-adamantanecarboxylic acid moiety and reactive oxygen species (ROS)/pH cascade-responsive copolymer poly(β-amino esters)-thioketal (TK)-βcyclodextrin. TPL/PBAE TK @GA NPs could accumulate in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissue effectively, mediated by nanoscale advantage and GA' recognition to specific receptors. The elevated concentration of ROS in tumor microenvironment (TME) quickly breaks the TK linkages, causing the detachment of shell (cyclodextrin) CD layer. Then, the accompanying negative-to-positive charge-reversal of NPs was realized via the PBAE moiety protonation under the slightly acidic TME, significantly enhancing the NPs' cellular internalization. Remarkably, the pH-responsive endo/lysosome escape of PBAE core triggered intracellular TPL burst release, promoting the cancer cell apoptosis, autophagy, and intracellular ROS generation, leading to the self-amplification of ROS in TME. Afterward, the ROS positive-feedback loop was generated to further promote size-shrinkage and charge-reversal of NPs. Both in vitro and in vivo tests verified that TPL/PBAE TK @GA NPs produced a satisfactory anti-HCC therapy outcome. Collectively, this study offers a potential appealing paradigm to enhance TPL-based HCC therapy outcomes via multifunctionalized supramolecular nanodrugs.

Self-Augmented Reactive Oxygen Species-Responsive Nanoformulation with Efficient Curcumin Delivery for Inhibiting Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cell Growth and Migration

“…Meanwhile the rapid proliferation of tumor cells and hypoxia in the tumor microenvironment further contribute to heightened H 2 O 2 generation. As a result, H 2 O 2 concentration in carcinoma tissues is much higher than that in healthy tissues. , More importantly, chemotherapy exacerbates oxidative stress in tumor cells, leading to an excessive accumulation of H 2 O 2 . , It is reasonable to assert that H 2 O 2 is one of the most promising stimuluses to achieve tumor-specific drug delivery. , Additionally, ROS-responsiveness may protect CUR, a least in part, from oxidative degradation caused by ROS …”