A dual action coumarin-camptothecin polymer for light responsive drug release and photodynamic therapy

A light-responsive polymer allowing the controlled release of camptothecin and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is reported. The polymer was prepared by controlled copolymerisation of water-soluble N,N-dimethyl acrylamide with a bromocoumarin methacrylate monomer. The lipophilic chemotherapy agent camptothecin was caged onto the coumarin unit via a photo-cleavable carbonate ester enabling light-triggered cargo release. The polymer showed good biocompatibility in the dark, and high cancer cell killing activity mediated both by the photo-release of camptothecin and ROS generation. A light-responsive polymer caging the anticancer drug camptothecin was prepared by RAFT polymerisation. The water-soluble polymer efficiently killed cancer cells under irradiation thanks to simultaneous camptothecin uncaging and photodynamic therapy.

Automated summary

A light-responsive polymer capable of controlled release of camptothecin and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was developed, which exhibited high cancer cell killing activity through both camptothecin release and ROS generation.