Sustained and Step-Wise Drug Release by a Novel Double Responsive Dendrimer- N-Acetylcysteine Conjugate

Biomacromolecules. 2025 Jul 14;26(7):4274-4285. doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.5c00283. Epub 2025 Jul 3.

Abstract

Polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimers have emerged as promising vehicles for targeting the brain due to their intrinsic ability to penetrate through the injured blood-brain barrier. Herein, we present a novel drug delivery system based on a fourth generation PAMAM dendrimer as a brain targeting nanomedicine for the delivery of an anti-inflammatory drug N-acetyl cysteine with a sustained drug release profile. This D"ester"(NAC"ss"NAC) design enables NACs conjugated to the periphery of PAMAM dendrimers in the dimer form with ester and disulfide bonds to be sequentially released in a stepwise manner, responding to environmental pH and redox potential. Moreover, in vitro studies were conducted with a fluorescently labeled conjugate to confirm its nontoxic behavior and time-dependent cellular uptake, together with improved anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects over endotoxin-activated microglia. These findings demonstrate that the DNACNAC conjugate has a high potential to be utilized as a promising dendrimer-based nanomedicine platform for prolonged treatment of neuroinflammation-related CNS disorders.

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcysteine* / chemistry
  • Acetylcysteine* / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents* / chemistry
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents* / pharmacology
  • Antioxidants / chemistry
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Blood-Brain Barrier
  • Delayed-Action Preparations / chemistry
  • Dendrimers* / chemistry
  • Drug Delivery Systems
  • Drug Liberation
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Microglia / drug effects
  • Microglia / metabolism

Substances

  • Dendrimers
  • Acetylcysteine
  • PAMAM Starburst
  • Delayed-Action Preparations
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Antioxidants