ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Simple and feasible design of a polymeric nanoparticle for efficient anticancer drug delivery

Yue Zhao, Rui Zhong, Yongqiang Fu, Zhenlin Zhou, Ming Yang, and Lina He

Guiyang Hospital of Guizhou Aviation Industry Group, Guiyang, China

E-mail: zhaoyue20201104@sina.com

Received: 3 December 2020  Accepted: 5 March 2021

Abstract:

In this paper, we present a simple and feasible drug self-assembled delivery system with pH responsiveness and targeting function for cancer therapy. The drug delivery system is composed of an anticancer drug and an amphiphilic random copolymer based on phenylboronic acid, galactose, and polyethylene glycol monomethyl ether acrylate molecules and achieved through reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. The micelles present targeting function by introducing galactose molecules and show pH sensitivity on the basis of the interactions between phenylboronic acid and galactose molecules. Particle size, transmission electron microscopy, and drug release assays show the pH-responsive behavior of micelles at pH 6.0. Cellular uptake assay demonstrates that micelles can internalize HepG2 cells via receptor-mediated interaction. In addition, the drug-loaded micelles can considerably inhibit cancer cell proliferation as indicated by in vivo antitumor assay. The synthesized micelles may facilitate the development of valid drug delivery systems for cancer therapy.

Keywords: Copolymer; Galactose; Phenylboronic acid; Drug delivery system; Anticancer

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-021-01589-9

Chemical Papers 75 (8) 4035–4044 (2021)