ZnO Quantum Dots Modified by pH-Activated Charge-Reversal Polymer for Tumor Targeted Drug Delivery.

Yifan Wang,Youqing Shen,Liang He,Hailin Cong,Yang Chen,Bing Yu

doi:10.3390/polym10111272

Yifan Wang, Youqing Shen + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/polym10111272

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Journal: Polymers	Publication Date: Nov 15, 2018
Citations: 38	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Qingdao University, Zhejiang University

Abstract

In this paper, we reported a pH responsive nano drug delivery system (NDDS) based on ZnO quantum dots (QDs) for controlled release of drugs. Zwitterionic poly(carboxybetaine methacrylate) (PCBMA) and poly(2-(dimethylamino) ethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA) were introduced to modify ZnO QDs, which can help enhance water stability, increase blood circulation time, and promote endocytosis. After tuning of PCBMA/PDMAEMA ratios, the ZnO@P(CBMA-co-DMAEMA) nanoplatform shows a sensitive switch from strong protein adsorption resistance (with negatively charged surface) at physiological pH to strong adhesion to tumor cell membranes (with positively charged surface) at the slightly acidic extracellular pH of tumors. Anti-cancer drug, Doxorubicin (DOX), molecules were demonstrated to be successfully loaded to ZnO@P(CBMA-co-DMAEMA) with a relatively large drug loading content (24.6%). In addition, ZnO@P(CBMA-co-DMAEMA) loaded with DOX can achieve lysosomal acid degradation and release of DOX after endocytosis by tumor cells, resulting in synergistic treatment of cancer, which is attributed to a combination of the anticancer effect of Zn2+ and DOX.

Highlights

Cancer is a serious threat to people’s health all over the world
Based on the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect, nano drug delivery system (NDDS) can reach to lesions, which are modified by one or two major types of protein resistant materials [5], polyethylene glycol (PEG)
The PEGylation of NDDS has a negative effect on the internalization of NDDS due to the strong protein adsorption resistance structure of PEG, reducing the therapeutic effect [11,12,13]

Summary

Introduction

Cancer therapy relies mainly on chemotherapy and radiation therapy, which has great side effects along with great sequela [1,2]. Based on the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect, NDDSs can reach to lesions, which are modified by one or two major types of protein resistant materials [5], polyethylene glycol (PEG). The PEGylation of NDDS has a negative effect on the internalization of NDDS due to the strong protein adsorption resistance structure of PEG, reducing the therapeutic effect [11,12,13]. ZnO quantum dots (QDs) have drawn much attention because of the advantages of low cost, ease of availability, biocompatibility, and high thermal stability [14,15]. The unprotected ZnO QDs can be Polymers 2018, 10, 1272; doi:10.3390/polym10111272 www.mdpi.com/journal/polymers

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