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Zwitterionic-to-cationic charge conversion polyprodrug nanomedicine for enhanced drug delivery
Sheng Wang1, Fuwu Zhang2, Guocan Yu2
1School of Life Sciences, Tianjin University and Tianjin Engineering Center of Micro-Nano Biomaterials and Detection-Treatment Technology, Tianjin 300072, China.
Abstract:
Zwitterionic surface modification is a promising strategy for nanomedicines to achieve prolonged circulation time and thus effective tumor accumulation. However, zwitterion modified nanoparticles suffer from reduced cellular internalization efficiency. Methods: A polyprodrug-based nanomedicine with zwitterionic-to-cationic charge conversion ability (denoted as ZTC-NMs) was developed for enhanced chemotherapeutic drug delivery. The polyprodrug consists of pH-responsive poly(carboxybetaine)-like zwitterionic segment and glutathione-responsive camptothecin prodrug segment. Results: The ZTC-NMs combine the advantages of zwitterionic surface and polyprodrug. Compared with conventional zwitterionic surface, the ZTC-NMs can respond to tumor microenvironment and realize ZTC surface charge conversion, thus improve cellular internalization efficiency of the nanomedicines. Conclusions: This ZTC method offers a strategy to promote the drug delivery efficiency and therapeutic efficacy, which is promising for the development of cancer nanomedicines.
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