Polysaccharide-Based Nanoparticles for Two-Step Responsive Release of Antitumor Drug

A novel two-step in situ method for targeted antitumor drug release by supramolecular assembly (Fc-CPT@HACD) was constructed using camptothecin prodrug (Fc-CPT) and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD)-modified hyaluronic acid (HACD). Benefiting from the overexpressed H₂O₂ and glutathione (GSH) in tumor cells, Fc-CPT@HACD can be disassembled by oxidation of ferrocene (Fc) to Fc⁺, leading to an efficient release of the anticancer drug camptothecin (CPT) to induce tumor cell apoptosis without affecting normal cells. The in vivo experiment results also demonstrated that Fc-CPT@HACD possessed higher anticancer efficiency than free CPT, accompanied by negligible side effects.