Dually Responsive Nanoparticles for Drug Delivery Based on Quaternized Chitosan

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Developing effective drug delivery systems is crucial for cancer therapy.
• Targeting tumor-specific environments can improve drug efficacy and reduce side effects.
• Stimuli-responsive nanoparticles offer a promising approach for controlled drug release.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate and characterize dual-responsive nanoparticles (NPs) for targeted drug delivery.
• To investigate the triggered release of doxorubicin (DOX) from NPs in response to pH and mannitol.
• To evaluate the antitumor efficacy and cytotoxicity of the developed NPs.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of modified chitosan-based NPs incorporating heparin and poly(vinyl alcohol).
• Incorporation of phenylboronic acid (PBA) groups for pH and mannitol responsiveness.
• Loading of doxorubicin (DOX) into the NPs and characterization of their properties.
• In vitro assessment of drug release profiles under varying pH and mannitol concentrations.
• Evaluation of NPs' antitumor efficiency and cytotoxicity.

Main Results:

• Successfully fabricated dual-responsive NPs composed of PQCS, Hep, and PVA.
• Demonstrated triggered release of DOX from NPs at acidic pH (5.0) and in the presence of mannitol.
• Observed a >1.5-fold increase in DOX release at pH 5.0 with 20 mg/mL mannitol.
• Exhibited effective antitumor activity and enhanced cytotoxicity of the NPs in response to stimuli.

Conclusions:

• The developed dual-responsive NPs show significant potential as a drug delivery vector for cancer therapy.
• The NPs effectively release anticancer drugs in response to tumor-specific acidic environments and mannitol.
• These findings highlight the promise of stimuli-responsive nanomaterials for improving cancer treatment outcomes.