Nanoparticle-Stabilized Oxygen Microcapsules Prepared by Interfacial Polymerization for Enhanced Oxygen Delivery

Most tumors have more severe hypoxia levels than normal tissue; tumor hypoxia is thus a useful target for cancer treatment. Here, we develop an effective oxygen delivery vehicle of polydopamine-nanoparticle-stabilized oxygen microcapsules by interfacial polymerization. The oxygen microcapsules have excellent biocompatibility. Oxygen could easily diffuse out from the microcapsules, thus increasing and maintaining the microenvironment at an oxygen-rich state. In vitro cell cultures confirm that oxygen microcapsules could effectively improve the hypoxia microenvironment, showing the lowest fluorescent intensity of hypoxia-green-labeled cells. When injected subcutaneously in vivo, oxygen microcapsules could also improve the tumor's hypoxia microenvironment, thus suppressing the growth of tumor. Synergetic therapy using oxygen microcapsules and gemcitabine drugs is an effective way for tumor treatment, showing the best performance in suppressing the tumor's growth.

Automated summary

A new oxygen delivery system using polydopamine-nanoparticle-stabilized oxygen microcapsules has been developed to target tumor hypoxia and suppress tumor growth. The microcapsules demonstrate excellent biocompatibility and have the ability to increase and maintain oxygen levels in the tumor microenvironment, leading to improved outcomes both in vitro and in vivo. Synergetic therapy combining oxygen microcapsules with gemcitabine drugs shows the best performance in inhibiting tumor growth.