Stimuli-responsive nanoparticles with target capacity are of great interest in drug delivery for cancer therapy. However, the challenge is to achieve highly smart release with precise spatiotemporal control for cancer therapy. Herein, we report the preparation and properties of multi-stimuli-responsive nanoparticles through the co-assembly of a 3-arm star quaterpolymer with a near-infrared (NIR) photothermal agent and chemotherapeutic compound. The nanoparticles can exhibit NIR light/pH/reduction-responsive drug release and intracellular drug translocation in cancer cells, which further integrate photoinduced hyperthermia for synergistic anticancer efficiency, thereby leading to tumor ablation without tumor regrowth. Thus, this rational design of nanoparticles with multiple responsiveness represents a versatile strategy to provide smart drug delivery paradigms for cancer therapy.
Keywords: cancer therapy; miktoarm star copolymer; multisensitive nanoparticles; stimuli-triggered release; synergistic effect.