GSH and light dual stimuli-responsive supramolecular polymer drug carriers for cancer therapy

Glutathione (GSH)/light dual-responsive supramolecular drug carriers (abbreviated as CPAP) based on CD-PEG⊃Azo-PCL were fabricated for intracellular delivery of doxorubicin (DOX). The carriers were spherical with a diameter of 70–90 nm and exhibited GSH/light sensitivity. The GSH response attributed to disulfide bonds between PEG and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), and the light response was achieved by a simple host-guest interaction between β-CD and azobenzene . DOX was encapsulated into the hydrophobic core of CPAP. The drug loaded CPAP ( [email protected] ) displayed the fastest drug release in the presence of GSH and light simultaneously. The cytotoxicities of CPAP and [email protected] were explored by SKOV3 cells and HEK293T cells. The results of cell experiments indicated that [email protected] could effectively inhibit cancer cells while had reduced toxicity to normal cells. We believe that [email protected] drug delivery system may present promising application for precisely controllable drug release.