Programmable co-delivery of the immune checkpoint inhibitor NLG919 and chemotherapeutic doxorubicin via a redox-responsive immunostimulatory polymeric prodrug carrier

Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2017 Jun;38(6):823-834. doi: 10.1038/aps.2017.44. Epub 2017 May 8.

Abstract

To achieve synergistic therapeutic efficacy and prevent cancer relapse, chemotherapy and immunotherapy have been combined as a new modality for tumor treatment. In this work, we designed a redox-responsive immunostimulatory polymeric prodrug carrier, PSSN10, for programmable co-delivery of an immune checkpoint inhibitor NLG919 (NLG) and a chemotherapeutic doxorubicin (DOX). NLG-containing PSSN10 prodrug polymers were self-assembled into nano-sized micelles that served as a carrier to load DOX (DOX/PSSN10 micelles). DOX/PSSN10 micelles displayed spherical morphology with a size of ∼170 nm. DOX was effectively loaded into PSSN10 micelles with a loading efficiency of 84.0%. In vitro DOX release studies showed that rapid drug release could be achieved in the highly redox environment after intracellular uptake by tumor cells. In 4T1.2 tumor-bearing mice, DOX/PSSN10 micelles exhibited greater accumulation of DOX and NLG in the tumor tissues compared with other organs. The PSSN10 carrier dose-dependently enhanced T-cell immune responses in the lymphocyte-Panc02 co-culture experiments, and significantly inhibited tumor growth in vivo. DOX/PSSN10 micelles showed potent cytotoxicity in vitro against 4T1.2 mouse breast cancer cells and PC-3 human prostate cancer cells comparable to that of DOX. In 4T1.2 tumor-bearing mice, DOX/PSSN10 mixed micelles (5 mg DOX/kg, iv) was more effective than DOXIL (a clinical formulation of liposomal DOX) or free DOX in inhibiting the tumor growth and prolonging the survival of the treated mice. In addition, a more immunoactive tumor microenvironment was observed in the mice treated with PSSN10 or DOX/PSSN10 micelles compared with the other treatment groups. In conclusion, systemic delivery of DOX via PSSN10 nanocarrier results in synergistic anti-tumor activity.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Doxorubicin / chemistry
  • Doxorubicin / pharmacology*
  • Drug Carriers / chemistry
  • Drug Delivery Systems*
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Imidazoles / chemistry
  • Imidazoles / pharmacology*
  • Immunization
  • Isoindoles / chemistry
  • Isoindoles / pharmacology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Micelles
  • Molecular Structure
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Polymers / chemistry
  • Polymers / pharmacology*
  • Prodrugs / chemistry
  • Prodrugs / pharmacology*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • 1-cyclohexyl-2-(5H-imidazo(5,1-a)isoindol-5-yl)ethanol
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Drug Carriers
  • Imidazoles
  • Isoindoles
  • Micelles
  • Polymers
  • Prodrugs
  • Doxorubicin