Issue 33, 2023

Biodegradable nanoemulsion-based bioorthogonal nanocatalysts for intracellular generation of anticancer therapeutics

Abstract

Bioorthogonal catalysis mediated by transition metal catalysts (TMCs) provides controlled in situ activation of prodrugs through chemical reactions that do not interfere with cellular bioprocesses. The direct use of ‘naked’ TMCs in biological environments can have issues of solubility, deactivation, and toxicity. Here, we demonstrate the design and application of a biodegradable nanoemulsion-based scaffold stabilized by a cationic polymer that encapsulates a palladium-based TMC, generating bioorthogonal nanocatalyst “polyzymes”. These nanocatalysts enhance the stability and catalytic activity of the TMCs while maintaining excellent mammalian cell biocompatibility. The therapeutic potential of these nanocatalysts was demonstrated through efficient activation of a non-toxic prodrug into an active chemotherapeutic drug, leading to efficient killing of cancer cells.

Graphical abstract: Biodegradable nanoemulsion-based bioorthogonal nanocatalysts for intracellular generation of anticancer therapeutics

  • This article is part of the themed collection: Nanozymes

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
18 Apr. 2023
Accepted
25 Jūl. 2023
First published
03 Aug. 2023

Nanoscale, 2023,15, 13595-13602

Biodegradable nanoemulsion-based bioorthogonal nanocatalysts for intracellular generation of anticancer therapeutics

A. Nabawy, A. Gupta, M. Jiang, C. Hirschbiegel, S. Fedeli, A. N. Chattopadhyay, J. Park, X. Zhang, L. Liu and V. M. Rotello, Nanoscale, 2023, 15, 13595 DOI: 10.1039/D3NR01801F

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements