AUTHOR=Yin Xingyong , Li Zimu , Zhang Yi , Zeng Xiaowei , Wang Qiuxu , Liang Zhigang 

TITLE=Polydopamine surface-modified hyperbranched polymeric nanoparticles for synergistic chemo/photothermal therapy of oral cancer

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/bioengineering-and-biotechnology/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2023.1174014

DOI=10.3389/fbioe.2023.1174014

ISSN=2296-4185

ABSTRACT=<p>A novel drug delivery system for the treatment of oral cancer was developed using a facile polydopamine (PDA)-based surface modification and a binding mechanism linking folic acid-targeting ligands. The system was able to achieve the following objectives: loading of chemotherapeutic agents, active targeting, pH responsiveness, and prolonged <italic>in vivo</italic> blood circulation. DOX-loaded polymeric nanoparticles (DOX/H20-PLA@PDA NPs) were functionalized with amino-poly (ethylene glycol)-folic acid (H<sub>2</sub>N-PEG-FA) after coating them with PDA to form the targeting combination, DOX/H20-PLA@PDA-PEG-FA NPs. The novel NPs exhibited drug delivery characteristics similar to DOX/H20-PLA@ PDA NPs. Meanwhile, the incorporated H<sub>2</sub>N-PEG-FA contributed to active targeting, as illustrated in cellular uptake assays and animal studies. <italic>In vitro</italic> cytotoxicity and <italic>in vivo</italic> anti-tumor studies have shown that the novel nanoplatforms exhibit extremely effective therapeutic effects. In conclusion, the multifunctional PDA-modified H20-PLA@PDA-PEG-FA NPs offer a promising chemotherapeutic strategy to improve the treatment of oral cancer.</p>