Hydrophobic Cysteine Poly(disulfide)-based Redox-Hypersensitive Nanoparticle Platform for Cancer Theranostics

Selective tumor targeting and drug delivery are critical for cancer treatment. Stimulus-sensitive nanoparticle (NP) systems have been designed to specifically respond to significant abnormalities in the tumor microenvironment, which could dramatically improve therapeutic performance in terms of enhanced efficiency, targetability, and reduced side-effects. We report the development of a novel L-cysteine-based poly (disulfide amide) (Cys-PDSA) family for fabricating redox-triggered NPs, with high hydrophobic drug loading capacity (up to 25 wt% docetaxel) and tunable properties. The polymers are synthesized through one-step rapid polycondensation of two nontoxic building blocks: L-cystine ester and versatile fatty diacids, which make the polymer redox responsive and give it a tunable polymer structure, respectively. Alterations to the diacid structure could rationally tune the physicochemical properties of the polymers and the corresponding NPs, leading to the control of NP size, hydrophobicity, degradation rate, redox response, and secondary self-assembly after NP reductive dissociation. In vitro and in vivo results demonstrate these NPs' excellent biocompatibility, high selectivity of redox-triggered drug release, and significant anticancer performance. This system provides a promising strategy for advanced anticancer theranostic applications.