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Combinatorial Synthesis of and High-throughput Protein Release from Polymer Film and Nanoparticle Libraries
Published on: September 6, 2012
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H2S Activated Drug Release from Protein Cages
Weijian Chen1, Yajie Zhang1, Xiao Li1
1Department of Polymer Science & Engineering, School of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Nanjing University , Nanjing 210023, P. R. China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|September 16, 2017
Summary
Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) triggers controlled release of the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin from a copper-coordinated apoferritin nanocomposite. This H2S-activated drug delivery system shows promise for targeted cancer therapy.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Nanotechnology
- Drug Delivery Systems
Background:
- Controlled drug release is crucial for effective cancer therapy.
- Gasotransmitters like hydrogen sulfide (H2S) offer potential as triggers for targeted drug delivery.
- Apoferritin nanoparticles provide a biocompatible platform for drug encapsulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel nanocomposite for controlled doxorubicin release using H2S as a trigger.
- To investigate the stability and H2S-responsive release mechanism of the doxorubicin-loaded apoferritin.
- To evaluate the in vitro antitumor efficacy of the H2S-activated drug delivery system.
Main Methods:
- Doxorubicin was precoordinated with copper ions and encapsulated within horse spleen apoferritin.
- The stability of the nanocomposite at physiological conditions was assessed.
- H2S-induced doxorubicin release was studied, focusing on the interaction between sulfide and copper ions.
- In vitro cytotoxicity assays were performed on tumor cells.
Main Results:
- The doxorubicin-loaded apoferritin nanocomposite demonstrated stability at physiological pH and temperature.
- Controlled doxorubicin release was achieved upon H2S activation, without compromising the apoferritin shell integrity.
- The release mechanism was attributed to the strong affinity of sulfide for copper ions.
- In vitro studies confirmed the potential of H2S-activated doxorubicin for effective antitumor activity.
Conclusions:
- H2S can serve as an effective chemical trigger for controlled doxorubicin release from copper-coordinated apoferritin.
- This H2S-responsive drug delivery system offers a promising strategy for targeted cancer therapy.
- The findings highlight the potential of utilizing gasotransmitters for advanced nanomedicine applications.
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