Aim: To formulate and assess the anticancer effect of the poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) copolymer with the thioether groups (diethyl sulfide [Des]) and disulfide bond (cystamine containing disulfide [Cys]), which encapsulated the anticancer drug paclitaxel (PTX) and triggered PTX release in cancer cell H2O2-rich or glutathione-rich surroundings. Methods: PLGA-b-P (Des@Cys) and PLGA-b-P nanoparticles loaded with PTX were prepared and characterized in vitro. The delivery ability of the PLGA-b-P nanoparticles and PLGA-b-P-PTX nanoparticles was assessed on a CT26 (mouse colon cancer cell line) and mouse lung cancer LLC model. Results: The nanoparticles were successfully prepared. Compared with free PTX, the formulated PLGA-b-P nanoparticles loaded with PTX exhibited greater accumulation at the tumor site in the mouse model. Conclusion: PLGA-b-P nanoparticles promote drug accumulation at tumor sites, providing an effective strategy for an intelligent, responsive drug-delivery system.
Keywords: GSH-sensitive; PLGA; ROS-sensitive; disulfide bond; dual-responsive nanoparticles; paclitaxel; polymer nanoparticles; targeted delivery; thioether bond; tumor microenvironment.