Microfluidic-Assisted Engineering of Quasi-Monodisperse pH-Responsive Polymersomes toward Advanced Platforms for the Intracellular Delivery of Hydrophilic Therapeutics
Language English Country United States Media print-electronic
Document type Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- MeSH
- Doxorubicin chemistry MeSH
- Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions MeSH
- Hydrogen-Ion Concentration MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy MeSH
- Microfluidics methods MeSH
- Mice MeSH
- Cell Line, Tumor MeSH
- Drug Carriers chemistry MeSH
- Polymers chemistry MeSH
- Antineoplastic Agents chemistry MeSH
- Flow Cytometry MeSH
- Microscopy, Electron, Transmission MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Mice MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Names of Substances
- Doxorubicin MeSH
- Drug Carriers MeSH
- Polymers MeSH
- Antineoplastic Agents MeSH
The extracellular and subcellular compartments are characterized by specific pH levels that can be modified by pathophysiological states. This scenario encourages the use of environmentally responsive nanomedicines for the treatment of damaged cells. We have engineered doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded pH-responsive polymersomes using poly([ N-(2-hydroxypropyl)]methacrylamide)- b-poly[2-(diisopropylamino)ethyl methacrylate] block copolymers (PHPMA m- b-PDPA n). We demonstrate that, by taking advantage of the microfluidic technology, quasi-monodisperse assemblies can be created. This feature is of due relevance because highly uniform nanoparticles commonly exhibit more consistent biodistribution and cellular uptake. We also report that the size of the polymer vesicles can be tuned by playing with the inherent mechanical parameters of the microfluidic protocol. This new knowledge can be used to engineer size-specific nanomedicines for enhanced tumor accumulation if the manufacturing is performed with previous knowledge of tumor characteristics (particularly the degree of vascularity and porosity). The pH-dependent DOX release was further investigated evidencing the ability of polymersome to sustain encapsulated hydrophilic molecules when circulating in physiological environment (pH 7.4). This suggests nonrelevant drug leakage during systemic circulation. On the other hand, polymersome disassembly in slightly acid environments takes place enabling fast DOX release, thereby making the colloidal carriers highly cytotoxic. These features encourage the use of such advanced pH-responsive platforms to target damaged cells while preserving healthy environments during systemic circulation.
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