Issue 10, 2021

Encapsulation of polyprodrugs enables an efficient and controlled release of dexamethasone

Abstract

Water-soluble low molecular weight drugs, such as the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone (DXM), can easily leak out of nanocarriers after encapsulation due to their hydrophilic nature and small size. This can lead to a reduced therapeutic efficacy and therefore to unwanted adverse effects on healthy tissue. Targeting DXM to inflammatory cells of the liver like Kupffer cells or macrophages is a promising approach to minimize typical side effects. Therefore, a controlled transport to the cells of interest and selective on-site release is crucial. Aim of this study was the development of a DXM-phosphate-based polyprodrug and the encapsulation in silica nanocontainers (SiO2 NCs) for the reduction of inflammatory responses in liver cells. DXM was copolymerized with a linker molecule introducing pH-cleavable hydrazone bonds in the backbone and obtaining polyprodrugs (PDXM). Encapsulation of PDXMs into SiO2 NCs provided a stable confinement avoiding uncontrolled leakage. PDXMs were degraded under acidic conditions and subsequently released out of SiO2 NCs. Biological studies showed significantly enhanced anti-inflammatory capacity of the polyprodrug nanoformulations over non-encapsulated DXM or soluble polyprodrugs. These results demonstrate the advantage of combining the polyprodrug strategy with nanocarrier-mediated delivery for enhanced control of the delivery of water-soluble low molecular weight drugs.

Graphical abstract: Encapsulation of polyprodrugs enables an efficient and controlled release of dexamethasone

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
13 mei 2021
Accepted
23 jul 2021
First published
24 jul 2021
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Nanoscale Horiz., 2021,6, 791-800

Encapsulation of polyprodrugs enables an efficient and controlled release of dexamethasone

M. Li, S. Jiang, A. Haller, S. Wirsching, M. Fichter, J. Simon, M. Wagner, V. Mailänder, S. Gehring, D. Crespy and K. Landfester, Nanoscale Horiz., 2021, 6, 791 DOI: 10.1039/D1NH00266J

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