Introduction: Poor cell uptake and incomplete intracellular drug release are the two major challenges for polymeric prodrug-based drug delivery systems (PPDDSs) in cancer treatment.
Methods: Herein, a PPDDS with pH-induced surface charge-reversal and reactive oxygen species (ROS) amplification for ROS-triggered self-accelerating drug release was developed, which was formed by encapsulating a ROS generation agent (vitamin K3 (VK3)) in pH/ROS dual-sensitive polymetric prodrug (PEG-b -P(LL-g -TK-PTX)-(LL-g -DMA)) based micelle nanoparticles (denoted as PVD-NPs).
Results: The surface charge of the PVD-NPs can change from negative to positive for enhanced cell uptake in response to tumor extracellular acidity pH. After internalization by cancer cells, PVD-NPs demonstrate dual drug release in response to intracellular ROS-rich conditions. In addition, the released VK3 can produce ROS under the catalysis by NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase-1, which facilitates tumor-specific ROS amplification and drug release selectively in cancer cells to enhance chemotherapy.
Conclusion: Both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that the PVD-NPs showed significant antitumor activity in human prostate cancer.
Keywords: charge-reversal, dual-responsive, ROS generation, cancer specific chemotherapy