Abstract
Multidrug resistance (MDR) is one of the major obstacles hindering the successful chemotherapy of cancer. Overexpression of drug efflux transporters such as P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is an important factor responsible for MDR. In this study, a novel copolymer methoxy-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly[(N-(6-hydroxyhexyl)-g-doxorubicin-l-aspartamide)-(β-benzyl-l-aspartate)] (mPEG-P[Asp(HPA-g-DOX)-BLA)] was synthesized and utilized to assemble into nanovesicles with hydrophilic P-gp inhibitor elacridar hydrochloride (Ela) encapsulated into the aqueous lumen. Doxorubicin (DOX) was covalently conjugated onto the polymer chain via a pH-cleavable amide linkage, leading to a pH responsive DOX release as well as disintegration of the nanovesicles in the lysosome of tumor cells. In vitro studies demonstrated that the DOX and Ela co-delivered nanovesicles showed superior cytotoxicity and enhanced anti-tumor properties as compared to single DOX-delivery nanosystems in MCF-7/ADR cancer, which was attributed to the P-gp bioactivity inhibition as investigated by a cell immunofluorescence assay. In vivo studies showed that the polymeric nanovesicles effectively accumulated at the tumor site and the co-delivered DOX and Ela effectively suppressed the MCF-7/ADR tumor growth. All the results indicated that the acid-liable nanovesicles had a synergistic effect to enhance antitumor efficacy for multidrug-resistant breast cancer treatment.