Frontiers in Pharmacology (Jan 2022)

A GSH/CB Dual-Controlled Self-Assembled Nanomedicine for High-Efficacy Doxorubicin-Resistant Breast Cancer Therapy

  • Yang Yang,
  • Quanfeng Zhao,
  • Zhe Peng,
  • Yunjiang Zhou,
  • Miao-Miao Niu,
  • Lin Chen,
  • Lin Chen

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2021.811724
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12

Abstract

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Chemoresistance is a major therapeutic obstacle in the treatment of breast cancer. Therefore, how to overcome chemoresistance is a problem to be solved. Here, a glutathione (GSH)/cathepsin B (CB) dual-controlled nanomedicine formed by cyclic disulfide-bridged peptide (cyclic-1a) as a potent anticancer agent is reported. Under the sequential treatment of GSH and CB, cyclic-1a can efficiently self-assemble into nanofibers. In vitro studies show that cyclic-1a promotes the apoptosis of MCF-7/DOX cells by inducing the cleavages of caspase-3 and PARP. In vivo studies confirm that cyclic-1a significantly inhibits the progression of MCF-7/DOX cells-derived xenograft in nude mice, with no obvious adverse reactions. This study provides a paradigm of GSH/CB dual-controlled nanomedicine for high-efficacy and low-toxic DOX-resistant breast cancer therapy.

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