Multi-responsive polypeptidosome: characterization, morphology transformation, and triggered drug delivery

Area of Science:

• Polymer Science
• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Developing stimuli-responsive nanomedicines for controlled drug release remains a significant challenge in polymer therapeutics.
• Biodegradable polymeric nanocarriers that integrate multi-stimuli sensitivity are crucial for advanced drug delivery systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and synthesize a novel multi-responsive polypeptide-based vesicle (polypeptidosome) capable of triggered drug release.
• To investigate the combined sensitivity of multiple physiological and clinic-related stimuli for controlled doxorubicin release.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of a polypeptide-b-PEO copolymer with integrated light-responsive, oxidizable, and photo-caged redox groups.
• Characterization of polypeptidosome morphology and size changes upon stimuli application.
• Evaluation of doxorubicin release kinetics under various stimuli, including UV irradiation and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2).

Main Results:

• The designed polypeptidosome demonstrated multi-stimuli-responsive behavior, altering morphology and size.
• Controlled or on-off release of the anticancer drug doxorubicin was achieved.
• Combined UV irradiation and H2O2 stimuli resulted in a significantly lower IC50 (3.80 μg DOX equiv/mL) compared to H2O2 alone (5.28 μg DOX equiv/mL).

Conclusions:

• The novel polypeptidosome platform offers a unique multi-responsive system for triggered drug delivery.
• This approach enhances the efficacy of anticancer drug delivery, particularly when combining multiple stimuli.
• Polypeptidosomes represent a promising advancement in stimuli-responsive nanomedicine for targeted cancer therapy.