Core-Tunable Dendritic Polymer: A Folate-Guided Theranostic Nanoplatform for Drug Delivery Applications

Area of Science:

• Polymer Chemistry
• Nanotechnology
• Cancer Therapeutics

Background:

• Hydrophobic anticancer drugs face challenges in clinical application due to poor bioavailability and limited systemic circulation.
• Targeted drug delivery systems are crucial for overcoming these limitations and improving cancer treatment efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To engineer a novel hyperbranched polymer for efficient encapsulation and targeted delivery of hydrophobic anticancer drugs.
• To formulate and characterize theranostic nanoplatforms for enhanced cancer therapy.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis and characterization of a hyperbranched polymer using malonic acid-based A2B monomer and 1,6-hexanediol.
• Formulation of polymeric nanoparticles via a one-pot solvent diffusion method, coencapsulating hydrophobic drugs (BQU57, doxorubicin).
• Surface functionalization with folic acid for targeted delivery to A549 cancer cells, followed by in vitro efficacy assessments.

Main Results:

• Characterization confirmed a dendritic structure, thermal stability, and amorphous nature suitable for drug delivery.
• Folic acid conjugation enabled targeted delivery and enhanced cellular uptake in cancer cells.
• In vitro assays demonstrated significant improvements in cytotoxicity, apoptosis induction, and reduced migration.

Conclusions:

• The synthesized dendritic polymer serves as a promising carrier for hydrophobic anticancer agents.
• The developed nanoplatform exhibits enhanced biocompatibility, stability, and therapeutic potential for cancer treatment.