Cryptobiosis-inspired assembly of “AND” logic gate platform for potential tumor-specific drug delivery

• Main Authors: Hu Zhou, Gang He, Yanbin Sun, Jingguo Wang, Haitao Wu, Ping Jin, Zhengbao Zha
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2021-02-01
• Series: Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B
• Subjects: Cryptobiosis; “AND” logic gate; Polyphenol‒metal chemistry; Drug delivery; Tumor microenvironment
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211383520306924

Developing tumor-specific drug delivery systems with minimized off-target cargo leakage remains an enduring challenge. In this study, inspired from the natural cryptobiosis explored by certain organisms and stimuli-responsive polyphenol‒metal coordination chemistry, doxorubicin (DOX)-conjugated gelatin nanoparticles with protective shells formed by complex of tannic acid and FeIII (DG@TA-FeIII NPs) were successfully developed as an “AND” logic gate platform for tumor-targeted DOX delivery. Moreover, benefiting from the well-reported photothermal conversion ability of TA-FeIII complex, a synergistic tumor inhibition effect was confirmed by treating 4T1 tumor-bearing mice with DG@TA-FeIII NPs and localized near-infrared (NIR) laser irradiation. As a proof of concept study, this work present a simple strategy for developing “AND” logic gate platforms by coating enzyme-degradable drug conjugates with detachable polyphenol‒metal shells.