Onion-like doxorubicin-carrying polymeric nanomicelles with tumor acidity-sensitive dePEGylation to expose positively-charged chitosan shell for enhanced cancer chemotherapy

Molecular Design and Controlled Self-Assembly of Copolymers as Core–Shell–Corona Nanoparticles for Smarter Tumor Treatment

“…The DOX-loaded core−shell−corona micelles were designed with a pH-sensitive chitosan shell and an acid-triggered detachable PEG corona, by dropping the mixture DMSO solution of highly PEGylated chitosan-g-poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (H-PEG-chitosan-g-PLGA) and DOX into pH 8.5 PBS. 19 Slow drug release in acidic media was achieved. However, the PEG corona could be detached in the intercellular environment with weak acidity by cleaving the acid-labile imine bond between PEG and chitosan, revealing the positively charged surface of the protonated chitosan and facilitating the cellular internalization.…”

“…The DOX-loaded core–shell–corona micelles were designed with a pH-sensitive chitosan shell and an acid-triggered detachable PEG corona, by dropping the mixture DMSO solution of highly PEGylated chitosan- g -poly­(lactic- co -glycolic acid) (H-PEG-chitosan- g -PLGA) and DOX into pH 8.5 PBS . Slow drug release in acidic media was achieved.…”

Camptothecin-based prodrug nanomedicines for cancer therapy

“…142 Notably, not all tumors, such as brain tumor, display aberrant high-level glycolysis and have a lower pH environment. 143 In addition, the pH of the tumor varies in different tumor sites. The different metabolic activity in different areas may result in varied pH levels.…”

Tumor-activated targetable photothermal chemotherapy using IR780/zoledronic acid-containing hybrid polymeric nanoassemblies with folate modification to treat aggressive breast cancer

“…To address the “PEG dilemma” issue, some tumor microenvironment-responsive PEG-detachable drug nanocarriers have been developed. 15–23 More importantly, one unique tactic that is the “sequential-targeting” approach: PEGylation-aided “passive targeting” followed by dePEGylation/ligand exposure-induced “active targeting” has been verified to effectively promote the delivery efficiency of drug payloads to both the tumor sites and cancer cells. 8,24–28 For example, Li's group adopted the strategy of “tumor-triggered targeting” to create dual-pH-responsive chitosan (CHI)/mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) coated with the targeting peptide adamantane–glycine–arginine–glycine–aspartic acid–serine (Ad-GRGDS) and methoxy poly(ethylene glycol) benzaldehyde (mPEG-CHO) for tumor-targeted delivery of doxorubicin (DOX).…”