Sequentially Self-Assembled Nanoreactor Comprising Tannic Acid and Phenylboronic Acid-Conjugated Polymers Inducing Tumor-Selective Enzymatic Activity.

ABSTRACT

The construction of enzyme delivery systems, which can control enzymatic activity at a target site, is important for efficient enzyme-prodrug therapy/diagnosis. Herein we report a facile technique to construct a systemically applicable ß-galactosidase (ß-Gal)-loaded ternary complex comprising tannic acid (TA) and phenylboronic acid-conjugated polymers through sequential self-assembly in aqueous solution. At physiological conditions, the ternary complex exhibited a hydrodynamic diameter of ∼40 nm and protected the loaded ß-Gal from unfavorable degradation by proteinase. Upon cellular internalization, the ternary complex recovered ß-Gal activity by releasing the loaded ß-Gal. The intravenously injected ternary complex thereby delivered ß-Gal to the target tumor in a subcutaneous tumor model and exerted enhanced and selective enzymatic activity at the tumor site. Sequential self-assembly with TA and phenylboronic acid-conjugated polymers may offer a novel approach for enzyme-prodrug theragnosis.