Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 19, 2026

Synthesis and Bioconjugation of Thiol-Reactive Reagents for the Creation of Site-Selectively Modified Immunoconjugates
Published on: March 6, 2019
A Reduction-responsive Amphiphilic Methotrexate-Podophyllotoxin Conjugate for Targeted Chemotherapy
Meili Hou1, Shanshan Li1, Zhigang Xu2
1School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing University, 174 Shazheng Street, Chongqing, 400044, P. R. China.
Abstract:
Owing to the naturally high toxicity, poor water solubility, and other side effects of podophyllotoxin (PPT), its applications are limited. To address these issues, we developed a new PPT delivery system, in which the hydrophilic drug methotrexate (MTX) and the hydrophobic drug PPT were linked by a reduction-responsive disulfide bond to form an amphiphilic drug-drug conjugate prodrug (MTX-SS-PPT). The conjugate could self-assemble into spherical nanoaggregates in aqueous solution and self-deliver to tumor tissues. In addition, MTX could target to folate-receptor-positive cells. Over-expression of glutathione in tumor cells broke the disulfide bonds and released the free drug. In vitro and in vivo experiments indicated that the nanodrug could effectively improve the biocompatibility and reduce the toxicity of PPT.
More Related Videos
09:56Preparation and Characterization of Lipophilic Doxorubicin Pro-drug Micelles
Published on: August 2, 2016
08:57Sample Extraction and Simultaneous Chromatographic Quantitation of Doxorubicin and Mitomycin C Following Drug Combination Delivery in Nanoparticles to Tumor-bearing Mice
Published on: October 5, 2017
Related Concept Videos
Targeted Cancer Therapies
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules
Treatment Resistant Cancers
Combination Therapies and Personalized Medicine
The combination of the drug acetazolamide and sulforaphane is a good example of combination therapy to treat cancer. The cells in the interior of a large tumor often die due to the hypoxic and...
Phase II Reactions: Methylation Reactions
The mechanism of methylation unfolds in two stages. The first stage sees a methyltransferase enzyme facilitating the transfer of a methyl group from S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) to the substrate, forming S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH). The second stage involves further metabolism of SAH into homocysteine, which can be recycled...
Drugs that Destabilize Microtubules