Reduction-Triggered Paclitaxel Release Nano-Hybrid System Based on Core-Crosslinked Polymer Dots with a pH-Responsive Shell-Cleavable Colorimetric Biosensor

Abstract

Herein, we describe the fabrication and characterization of carbonized disulfide core-crosslinked polymer dots with pH-cleavable colorimetric nanosensors, based on diol dye-conjugated fluorescent polymer dots (L-PD), for reduction-triggered paclitaxel (PTX) release during fluorescence imaging-guided chemotherapy of tumors. L-PD were loaded with PTX (PTX loaded L-PD), via π–π stackings or hydrophobic interactions, for selective theragnosis by enhanced release of PTX after the cleavage of disulfide bonds by high concentration of glutathione (GSH) in a tumor. The nano-hybrid system showed fluorescence quenching behavior with less than 2% of PTX released under physiological conditions. However, in a tumor microenvironment, the fluorescence recovered at an acidic-pH, and PTX (approximately 100% of the drug release) was released efficiently out of the matrix by reduction caused by the GSH level in the tumor cells, which improved the effectiveness of the cancer treatment. Therefore, the colorimetric nanosensor showed promising potential in distinguishing between normal and cancerous tissues depending on the surrounding pH and GSH concentrations so that PTX can be selectively delivered into cancer cells for improved cancer diagnosis and chemotherapy.

pH-Responsive Polymer Nanomaterials for Tumor Therapy

“…Owing to the high reducibility in the tumor environment, such as the increased glutathione (GSH) content, Kim et al. ( 141 ) designed pH- and GSH-responsive fluorescent polymer dots (L-PDs) containing PTX. The core part of the L-PD nano-hybrid system used disulfide bonds as the redox response site, which could not only maintain the stability of the internal structure but could also avoid the leakage of PTX during the cycle.…”

Tumor diagnosis using carbon-based quantum dots: Detection based on the hallmarks of cancer

“…47 Cancer diagnosis based on pH detection range. References: [ 445 , [469] , [470] , [471] , [472] , 478 , 480 , 483 , 484 , [500] , [501] , [502] , [505] , [506] , [507] , [508] , [509] , [510] , [511] , [512] , [513] , [514] , [516] , [517] , [518] , [519] , [520] , [521] , [522] , [523] , [524] , [525] , [526] , [527] , [528] , [529] , [530] , [531] , [532] , [533] , [534] , [535] , [536] , [537] , [538] , [539] , [540] , [541] ]. …”

Multicolor Hair Dyeing with Biocompatible Dark Polyphenol Complex-Integrated Shampoo with Reactive Oxygen Species Scavenging Activity

“…The synthesized DPC was then mixed with various hair-coloring dyes (red, blue, and black), and UV-Vis spectroscopy was conducted to observe the optical and structural properties of the DPC-dyes (Figure 1a). The narrow and broad absorbance peaks at 290 and 410 nm, respectively, in DPC(red), DPC(blue), and DPC(black) were attributed to the presence of π-π* in the polyphenols of the DPC, while the peak at 570-630 nm indicated the absorption values of the hair dyes [28][29][30]. To further confirm the even distribution of the hair dye, we introduced fluorescence dyes to each DPC-dye variant, except for DPC(black), which allowed us to visualize the fluorescence on the hair after applying the DPC-dye.…”