pH-Sensitive drug delivery system based on hydrophobic modified konjac glucomannan.

Amphiphilic aliphatic amines grafted konjac glucomannan (KGM-g-AH8, KGM-g-AH12 and KGM-g-AH18) micelles were prepared via a simple two-step synthesis with Schiff's base as the "switch" to achieve intracellular acid-triggered curcumin release. The KGM-g-AH8 self-assembled into spherical nano-micelles (107.6±11.6nm) in an aqueous medium, and presented high curcumin loading capacity as well as good physical stability in 28 days. The in vitro curcumin release behaviors proved the controlled release property and the endosomal/lysosomal pH response of KGM-g-AH8 micelles. The cytotoxicity and cellular uptake studies were also investigated to exhibit the intracellular pH-sensitivity, safety and biocompatibility of KGM-g-AH8 micelles. This research focuses on the feasibility of KGM-based micelles to be extrapolated as promising strategies for cancer therapy and offers new potential options for intracellular drug delivery.

Ingenious pH-sensitive dextran/mesoporous silica nanoparticles based drug delivery systems for controlled intracellular drug release.

In this work, dextran, a polysaccharide with excellent biocompatibility, is applied as the "gatekeeper" to fabricate the pH-sensitive dextran/mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) based drug delivery systems for controlled intracellular drug release. Dextran encapsulating on the surface of MSNs is oxidized by NaIO4 to obtain three kinds of dextran dialdehydes (PADs), which are then coupled with MSNs via pH-sensitive hydrazone bond to fabricate three kinds of drug carriers. At pH 7.4, PADs block the pores to prevent premature release of anti-cancer drug doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX). However, in the weakly acidic intracellular environment (pH∼5.5) the hydrazone can be ruptured; and the drug can be released from the carriers. The drug loading capacity, entrapment efficiency and release rates of the drug carriers can be adjusted by the amount of NaIO4 applied in the oxidation reaction. And from which DOX@MSN-NH-N=C-PAD10 is chosen as the most satisfactory one for the further in vitro cytotoxicity studies and cellular uptake studies. The results demonstrate that DOX@MSN-NH-N=C-PAD10 with an excellent pH-sensitivity can enter HeLa cells to release DOX intracellular due to the weakly acidic pH intracellular and kill the cells. In our opinion, the ingenious pH-sensitive drug delivery systems have application potentials for cancer therapy.

pH-Sensitive drug delivery system based on modified dextrin coated mesoporous silica nanoparticles.

In this work, a novel pH-sensitive drug delivery system based on modified dextrin coated mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs), DOX@MSN-DDA-CL, are prepared. The dextrin grafting on the surface of MSNs is oxidized by KIO4 to obtain dextrin dialdehyde, which is then cross-linked by tetraethylenepentamine through a pH-sensitive Schiff's base. Under physiological conditions, the cross-linked dextrin dialdehyde blocks the pores to prevent premature release of model drug doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX). In the weak acidic environment, pH 6.0 in this work, the Schiff's base can be hydrolyzed and released the drug. The in vitro drug release studies at different pHs prove the pH-sensitivity of DOX@MSN-DDA-CL. The cytotoxicity and cell internalization behavior are also investigated in detail. In vivo tissue distribution and pharmacokinetics with a H22-bearing mouse animal mode are also studied, prove that DOX@MSN-DDA-CL has a longer retention time than that of pure DOX and can accumulate in tumor region via enhanced permeation and retention and nanomaterials-induced endothelial cell leakiness effects. In conclusion, the pH-sensitive modified dextrin/MSNs complex drug delivery system has a great potential for cancer therapy.

"Stealthy" chitosan/mesoporous silica nanoparticle based complex system for tumor-triggered intracellular drug release.

Suitable protection strategies utilized in anticancer drug delivery systems enable carriers to reach their targeted positions and release drugs intracellularly more effectively. In this study, a novel "stealthy" chitosan (CHI)/mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN) based complex system, named DOX@MSN-SS-CHI-PEG, was developed for tumor-triggered intracellular drug release. CHI was applied to block the pores of MSNs to prevent premature drug release, whereas mPEG was grafted on the surface of the nanoparticles via a pH-sensitive benzoic imine linker to protect the carriers. As the pH of solid tumor tissues is slightly lower than that of normal tissues, mPEG could leave the nanoparticles to expose positively charged CHI at the surface, which enabled the nanoparticles to enter cancer cells more easily. The MSNs were covered by CHI via redox-sensitive disulfide bonds. As a result, the carriers could release the drug intercellularly to kill cancer cells owing to the high concentration of glutathione (GSH) in the cytosol. In vitro drug release studies at different GSH concentrations proved the redox-sensitivity of DOX@MSN-SS-CHI-PEG. mPEG leaving studies demonstrated that mPEG could leave the nanoparticles effectively at pH 6.0. The cytotoxicity and cell internalization behavior were also investigated in detail. In conclusion, the novel DOX@MSN-SS-CHI-PEG drug delivery system, which was "stealthy" in the physiological environment at pH 7.4 because of the protection of mPEG, was "activated" in weakly acidic tumor tissues to achieve tumor-triggered intracellular drug release; this system has great potential for cancer therapy.

Reduction biodegradable brushed PDMAEMA derivatives synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization and click chemistry for gene delivery.

Novel reducible and degradable brushed poly(2-(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) derivatives were synthesized and evaluated as non-viral gene delivery vectors. First, alkyne-functionalized poly(aspartic acid) with a disulfide linker between the propargyl group and backbone poly([(propargyl carbamate)-cystamine]-α,ß-aspartamide) (P(Asp-SS-AL)) was synthesized. Second, linear low molecular weight (LMW) monoazido-functionalized PDMAEMAs synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization were conjugated to the polypeptide side-chains of P(Asp-SS-AL) via click chemistry to yield high molecular weight (HMW) polyaspartamide-based disulfide-containing brushed PDMAEMAs (PAPDEs). The PAPDEs were able to condense plasmid DNA to form 100 to 200nm polyplexes with positive ζ-potentials. Moreover, in the presence of dithiothreitol the PAPDEs degraded into LMW PDAMEMA, resulting in disintegration of the PAPDE/DNA polyplexes and subsequent release of plasmid DNA. In vitro experiments revealed that the PAPDEs were less cytotoxic and more effective in gene transfection than control 25kDa poly(ethyleneimine) and HMW linear PDMAEMA. In conclusion, reducible and degradable polycations composed of LMW PDMAEMAs coupled to a polypeptide backbone via reduction-sensitive disulfide bonds are effective gene vectors with an excellent cytocompatibility.