title: Self-Assembled Supramolecular Nanogels as a Safe and Effective Drug Delivery Vector for Cancer Therapy.
abstract: Simple construction and manipulation of low-molecular-weight supramolecular nanogels, based on the introduction of multiple hydrogen bonding interactions, with the desired physical properties to achieve effective and safe delivery of drugs for cancer therapy remain highly challenging. Herein, a novel supramolecular oligomer cytosine (Cy)-polypropylene glycol containing self-complementary multiple hydrogen-bonded Cy moieties is developed, which undergoes spontaneous self-assembly to form nanosized particles in an aqueous environment. Phase transitions and scattering studies confirm that the supramolecular nanogels can be readily tailored to obtain the desired phase-transition temperature and temperature-induced release of the anticancer drug doxorubicin (DOX). The resulting nanogels exhibit an extremely high load carrying capacity (up to 24.8%) and drug-entrapment stability, making the loading processes highly efficient. Importantly, in vitro cytotoxicity assays indicate that DOX-loaded nanogels possess excellent biosafety for drug delivery applications under physiological conditions. When the environmental temperature is increased to 40 °C, DOX-loaded nanogels trigger rapid DOX release and exert cytotoxic effects, significantly reducing the dose required compared to free DOX. Given its simplicity, low cost, high reliability, and efficiency, this newly developed temperature-responsive nanocarrier has highly promising potential for controlled release drug delivery systems.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Applied Science and Technology, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei, 10607, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-Chia
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 30050, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Mei-Chih
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Applied Science and Technology, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei, 10607, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Zhi-Sheng
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Applied Science and Technology, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei, 10607, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jyun-Jie
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan.|Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei, 10607, Taiwan.|R&D Center for Membrane Technology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Chungli, Taoyuan, 32043, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Duu-Jong
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D002460:Cell Line; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D004337:Drug Carriers; D006801:Humans; D006860:Hydrogen Bonding; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry; D066244:Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
chemical_list: D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D004337:Drug Carriers; D004317:Doxorubicin
keywords: drug delivery; multiple hydrogen bonds; self-assembly; supramolecular nanogels; thermoresponsive polymers