Synthesis of a targeted, dual pH and redox-responsive nanoscale coordination polymer theranostic against metastatic breast cancer in vitro and in vivo

Background Nanoscale coordination polymers (nCP) have exhibited a great potential in designing of the theranostic platforms in the latest years. However, they have low selectivity for cancerous tissues and require to be modified for becoming effective cancer therapeutics. In this study, a novel nanoscale pH and redox-responsive coordination polymer with high selectivity was synthesized.Methods The nCP was synthesized by iron(III) chloride and dithiodiglycolic acid. After loading the prepared nCP with doxorubicin (DOX), nCP was coated with an amphiphilic copolymer composed of α-tocopheryl succinate-polyethylene glycol (VEP). Next, AS1411 aptamer was decorated on the VEP shell of the DOX-loaded nCP (Apt-VEP-nCP@DOX) to provide a guided drug delivery platform.Results The prepared platform demonstrated high DOX loading capacity and pH and redox-responsive DOX release. Apt-VEP-nCP@DOX displayed greater DOX internalization and toxicity toward breast cancer cells of 4T1 and MCF7 compared with that of non-targeted VEP-nCP@DOX. Also, the intravenous injection of Apt-VEP-nCP@DOX (a single dose) considerably suppressed the 4T1 tumor growth in vivo. Moreover, Apt-VEP-nCP@DOX showed outstanding magnetic resonance (MR) imaging capability for 4T1 adenocarcinoma diagnosis in ectopic 4T1 tumor model in mice.Conclusions The developed innovative intelligent Apt-VEP-nCP@DOX could serve as a safe and biocompatible theranostic platform appropriate for further translational purposes against breast cancer.