Transforming Complexity to Simplicity: Protein-Like Nanotransformer for Improving Tumor Drug Delivery...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Nanodrug delivery faces challenges in balancing circulation time, cellular uptake, lysosome escape, drug release, and tumor penetration.
• Simultaneously optimizing these parameters for effective tumor treatment remains a significant hurdle.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel nanotransformer (DTIG) capable of addressing the multifaceted requirements of tumor drug delivery.
• To investigate the transformative properties of DTIG in response to the tumor microenvironment for enhanced therapeutic outcomes.

Main Methods:

• DTIG was synthesized by assembling doxorubicin, tannic acid, and indocyanine green.
• The study evaluated DTIG's behavior in acidic tumor microenvironments, including cellular uptake, lysosome escape, and drug release mechanisms.
• Photothermal therapy was utilized to assess its impact on drug penetration.

Main Results:

• Hydrophilic DTIG demonstrated prolonged blood circulation.
• DTIG transformed into hydrophobic particles in acidic tumor microenvironments, facilitating cellular uptake.
• Proton-activated transformations enabled rapid lysosome escape and cytoplasmic drug release.
• Photothermal therapy enhanced tumor drug penetration, leading to potent antitumor efficacy.

Conclusions:

• The developed nanotransformer (DTIG) effectively overcomes key limitations in nanodrug delivery for cancer therapy.
• DTIG's unique proton-activated transformations and photothermal properties offer a promising strategy for improved antitumor efficacy and prognosis.