GSH and light dual stimuli-responsive supramolecular polymer drug carriers for cancer therapy

Glutathione (GSH)/light dual-responsive supramolecular drug carriers (abbreviated as CPAP) based on CD-PEGD superset of PCL were fabricated for intracellular delivery of doxorubicin (DOX). The carriers were spherical with a diameter of 70-90 nm and exhibited GSH/light sensitivity. The GSH response attributed to disulfide bonds between PEG and beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD), and the light response was achieved by a simple host-guest interaction between beta-CD and azobenzene. DOX was encapsulated into the hydrophobic core of CPAP. The drug loaded CPAP (CPAP@DOX) displayed the fastest drug release in the presence of GSH and light simultaneously. The cytotoxicities of CPAP and CPAP@DOX were explored by SKOV3 cells and HEK293T cells. The results of cell experiments indicated that CPAP@DOX could effectively inhibit cancer cells while had reduced toxicity to normal cells. We believe that CPAP@DOX drug delivery system may present promising application for precisely controllable drug release. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.