PEG-sheddable polyplex micelles as smart gene carriers based on MMP-cleavable peptide-linked block copolymers

A matrix metalloproteinase-cleavable peptide-linked block copolymer was fabricated and utilized to construct PEG-sheddable polyplex micelles as smart gene delivery vectors, which were demonstrated to exhibit higher cellular uptake, improved endosomal escape, and high-efficiency gene transfection in the presence of matrix metalloproteinase-2.