Star-shape redox-responsive PEG-sheddable copolymer of disulfide-linked polyethylene glycol-lysine-di-tocopherol succinate for tumor-triggering intracellular doxorubicin rapid release: head-to-head comparison.

A redox-responsive poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-sheddable copolymer of disulfide-linked PEG 5000-lysine-di-tocopherol succinate (P(5k)SSLV) is developed which can self-assemble into nanomicelles in aqueous condition and trigger the rapid release of encapsulated drugs within tumor cells. The reduction-insensitive doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded P(5k)LV (P(5k)LV-DOX) nanomicelles are further prepared. Then head-to-head comparison of P(5k)SSLV-DOX, P(5k)LV-DOX and DOX-Sol is performed concerning in vitro release, cytotoxicity, cellular uptake and apoptosis. Results show that P(5k)SSLV-DOX nanomicelles have a faster DOX release, a higher anti-tumor activity and more DOX concentrating in the nucleus than P(5k)LV-DOX nanomicelles. In conclusion, the redox-responsive P(5k)SSLV nanomicelles might hold a great potential to improve chemotherapy by tumor-triggering intracellular rapid release. The outcomes of this study also address the significance of such head-to-head comparison studies in translational research of nanomedicine.