1. Co-delivery of photosensitizer and diclofenac through sequentially responsive bilirubin nanocarriers for combating hypoxic tumors
- Author
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Yang Zhou, Fan Tong, Weilong Gu, Siqin He, Xiaotong Yang, Jiamei Li, Yue-Dong Gao, and Huile Gao
- Subjects
Bilirubin nanoparticles ,ROS-responsive drug release ,Charge reversal ,Photodynamic therapy ,Hypoxia ,Diclofenac ,Therapeutics. Pharmacology ,RM1-950 - Abstract
Considering that photodynamic therapy (PDT)-induced oxygen consumption and microvascular damage could exacerbate hypoxia to drive more glycolysis and angiogenesis, a novel approach to potentiate PDT and overcome the resistances of hypoxia is avidly needed. Herein, morpholine-modified PEGylated bilirubin was proposed to co-deliver chlorin e6, a photosensitizer, and diclofenac (Dc). In acidic milieu, the presence of morpholine could enable the nanocarriers to selectively accumulate in tumor cells, while PDT-generated reactive oxidative species (ROS) resulted in the collapse of bilirubin nanoparticles and rapid release of Dc. Combining with Dc showed a higher rate of apoptosis over PDT alone and simultaneously triggered a domino effect, including blocking the activity and expression of lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA), interfering with lactate secretion, suppressing the activation of various angiogenic factors and thus obviating hypoxia-induced resistance-glycolysis and angiogenesis. In addition, inhibition of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) by Dc alleviated hypoxia-induced resistance. This study offered a sequentially responsive platform to achieve sufficient tumor enrichment, on-demand drug release and superior anti-tumor outcomes in vitro and in vivo.
- Published
- 2022
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