Novel approach to enhancing the anticancer efficacy of methyl jasmonate with PEG-incorporated cationic polymers

Abstract

Methyl jasmonate (MJ) is a known hexokinase-II inhibitor with notable anticancer efficacy; however, its polymerisation for use as an anticancer agent has not been reported. Using an innovative synthetic methodology, we explored the conjugation of MJ to a cationic polymer recognised for its potent anticancer properties. This conjugation markedly enhanced both the solubility and cytotoxicity of MJ against cancer cells, exhibiting an efficacy approximately 10-fold higher than that of MJ alone. Furthermore, we introduced PEG-based copolymers, incorporating the jasmonate-based monomer and cationic co-monomer, which demonstrated substantial anticancer activity (IC₅₀ = 9 μg mL⁻¹ for B16F10). This was evidenced by low IC₅₀ values while maintaining increased selectivity (IC₅₀ = 1000 μg mL⁻¹) towards normal cell lines. The newly synthesised polymers represent a substantial advancement in targeted cancer therapy by leveraging the synergistic potential of combining anticancer agents.