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Updated: Sep 6, 2025

Magnetic-, Acoustic-, and Optical-Triple-Responsive Microbubbles for Magnetic Hyperthermia and Pothotothermal Combination Cancer Therapy
Published on: May 22, 2020
Smart hypoxia-responsive transformable and charge-reversible nanoparticles for the deep penetration and tumor
Hongyi Chen1, Qin Guo1, Yongchao Chu1
1Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201203, China.
Abstract:
The compact extracellular matrix (ECM) of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the major physical barrier that hinders the delivery of anti-tumor drugs, leading to strong inherent chemotherapy resistance as well as establishing an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). However, forcibly destroying the stroma barrier would break the balance of delicate signal transduction and dependence between tumor cells and matrix components. Uncontrollable growth and metastasis would occur, making PDAC more difficult to control. Hence, we design and construct an aptamer-decorated hypoxia-responsive nanoparticle s(DGL)n@Apt co-loading gemcitabine monophosphate and STAT3 inhibitor HJC0152. This nanoparticle can reverse its surficial charge in the TME, and reduce the size triggered by hypoxia. The released ultra-small DGL particles loading gemcitabine monophosphate exhibit excellent deep-tumor penetration, chemotherapy drugs endocytosis promotion, and autophagy induction ability. Meanwhile, HJC0152 inhibits overactivated STAT3 in both tumor cells and tumor stroma, softens the stroma barrier, and reeducates the TME into an immune-activated state. This smart codelivery strategy provides an inspiring opportunity in PDAC treatment.

