Intelligent poly(l-histidine)-based nanovehicles for controlled drug delivery

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Oncology

Background:

• Stimuli-responsive polymeric nanovehicles show promise for cancer therapy.
• Tumor microenvironment (TME) acidity presents an opportunity for targeted drug delivery.
• pH-responsive systems can improve therapeutic effects and reduce systemic toxicity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the design and construction of pH-responsive nanovehicles using poly(l-histidine) (PLH).
• To discuss the potential of PLH-based nanovehicles for targeted cancer treatment.
• To explore challenges and perspectives for clinical translation.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing poly(l-histidine) (PLH), a synthetic polypeptide with a pKa near the TME pH.
• Leveraging the pH-dependent hydrophobic-to-hydrophilic phase transition of PLH's imidazole rings.
• Designing nanovehicles that destabilize in acidic TME to release chemotherapeutics.

Main Results:

• PLH exhibits pH-responsive behavior suitable for acidic TME targeting.
• PLH-based nanovehicles can trigger drug release in response to tumor acidity.
• Demonstrated potential for enhanced specificity and efficacy in cancer treatment.

Conclusions:

• PLH is a viable biomaterial for creating effective pH-responsive nanocarriers.
• These nanovehicles offer a promising strategy for targeted chemotherapy.
• Further research is needed for successful benchtop-to-clinic translation.