Tumor pH-Responsive Nanocarriers With Light-Activatable Drug Release for Chemo-Photodynamic Therapy of Breast Cancer

Abstract

Developing bioresponsive nanocarriers with particular tumor cell targeting and on-demand payload release has remained a great challenge for combined chemo-photodynamic therapy (chemo-PDT). In this study, an intelligent nanocarrier (DATAT-NPCe6) responded to hierarchical endogenous tumor pH, and an exogenous red light was developed through a simple mixed micelle approach. The outside TAT ligand was masked to prevent an unexpected interaction in blood circulation. Following the accumulation of DATAT-NPCe6 in tumor tissues, tumor acidity at pH ∼6.5 recovered its targeting ability via triggering DA moiety degradation. Furthermore, the cascaded chemo-PDT was accomplished through light-stimulated nanocarrier disassembly and doxorubicin (DOX) release. Taking advantage of stability and controllability, this work provides a facile approach to designing bioresponsive nanocarriers and represents a proof-of-concept combinatorial chemo-PDT treatment.

pH-Sensitive Amphiphilic Diblock Polyphosphoesters with Lactate Units: Synthesis and Application as Drug Carriers

“…Nevertheless, unmodified micelles showed slow drug release preventing sufficient drug accumulation in cancer cells. Consequently, upgraded micelles with stimuli-sensitive (light, pH, temperature, ultrasound, and magnetic field) polymers were developed [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28]. Different strategies have been used to release drugs from the carriers in the tumor's acidic microenvironment [29].…”

Development of injectable upconversion nanoparticle‐conjugated doxorubicin theranostics electrospun nanostructure for targeted photochemotherapy in breast cancer

“…Light‐activated release of drug conjugated to nanoparticles via stimuli‐responsive bond cleavage in cancer drug delivery has been focused on ongoing research. Indeed, photothermal therapy (PTT) alongside photodynamic therapy (PDT) are emerging cancer treatment approaches 5 . In breast cancer, PTT is employed to ablate tumors by utilizing photothermal agents for local heat generation under near infrared (NIR) irradiation or drug release.…”

“…Indeed, photothermal therapy (PTT) alongside photodynamic therapy (PDT) are emerging cancer treatment approaches. 5 In breast cancer, PTT is employed to ablate tumors by utilizing photothermal agents for local heat generation under near infrared (NIR) irradiation or drug release. On the other hand, PDT uses photosensitizers for reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, one of the phenomena causing cancer cell destruction.…”