Hybrid protein-polymer nanoparticles based on P(NVCL-co-DMAEMA) loaded with cisplatin as a potential anti-cancer agent

Responsive polymers are a promising class of materials for a variety of applications, especially for the con-struction of biomedical devices such as novel drug delivery systems. In this work, we describe the synthesis of thermoresponsive protein-polymer conjugates with a phase-transition slightly higher than physiological tem-perature. Such conjugates could enable targeted drug delivery through the bloodstream with aggregation and accumulation at cancer tissue. Random copolymers composed of N-vinylcaprolactam (NVCL) and 2-(dimethy-lamino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) were grafted from bovine serum albumin (BSA) by Cu(0)-mediated radical polymerization. The obtained BSA-P(NVCL0.7-co-DMAEMA0.3) conjugates are, to the best of our knowl-edge, the first example of protein-polymer conjugates with PNVCL and revealed a cloud point around 40 degrees C. Furthermore, these conjugates were evaluated for their suitability as drug delivery vehicles for the anti-cancer drug cisplatin which still causes serious side effects when used as a free drug. BSA is known to bind cisplatin and the synthesized conjugates revealed a high cisplatin loading capacity and a significant cytotoxic profile against human breast cancer cells. Thus, these new smart hybrid materials may serve as potential carriers for the delivery of drugs or other applications in the biomedical area, especially in the field of anti-cancer treatment.

Automated summary

This study successfully synthesized thermoresponsive protein-polymer conjugates, which can be used as novel drug delivery systems for targeted drug delivery to cancer tissue through the bloodstream. The copolymers of N-vinylcaprolactam and 2-(dimethy-lamino)ethyl methacrylate were grafted onto bovine serum albumin, with a cloud point observed at around 40 degrees Celsius. These conjugates exhibited high cisplatin loading capacity and significant cytotoxicity against human breast cancer cells, making them potential carriers for drug delivery or other biomedical applications.