NIR-responsive ROS generating core and ROS-triggered 5′-Deoxy-5-fluorocytidine releasing shell structured water-swelling microgel for locoregional combination cancer therapy

Combination chemotherapy now becomes the most standard cancer treatment protocol. Here, we present a core-shell type polymeric microgel (CSPM) which combines photodynamic and chemo therapeutic modalities in one-pot system. CSPM localizes in the malignant lesion after intratumoral injection, releases reactive oxygen species (ROS) and anticancer drug (5′-deoxy-5-fluorocytidine; DFCR) under the near-infrared (NIR) laser treatment. Pheophorbide A (PheoA)-linked poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (poly-HEMA) was designated to a ROS-generating core, and chemically covered with a chitosan shell. In addition, phenylboronic acid was employed in chitosan shells and linked to DFCR to form an ROS cleavable boronic ester. The core-shell structure of CSPM was determined by transmission electron microscopy. NIR-responsive photodynamic ROS generation was confirmed by the oxidative reduction of 9,10-dimethylanthracene (a fluorescent dye), and the cascadic release of DFCR by ROS was confirmed by a release study and a live and dead cell imaging study. Typically, poly-HEMA cored microgel increased its volume by 48.9-fold after absorption of body fluid. This swelling property ensured CSPM was retained in tumor tissues after subtumoral injection and the suitability of CSPM for locoregional phototherapy. The therapeutic effect of CSPM was attributed to the combined, cascadic deliveries of cytotoxic ROS and DFCR and confirmed by growth inhibition studies in in vitro pancreatic cancer cells and in vivo colon cancer mouse model.