Introduction: Although a great many strategies have been proposed for tumor-targeted chemotherapy,
current delivery methods of anticancer drugs present limited success with inevitable systemic toxicity. The aim of
this study was to develop a new kind of theranostic carrier for targeted tumor therapy.
Methods:
Prior to prepare CHC-PFP-DOX, carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan (CHC) was synthesized by acylation
of carboxymethyl chitosan. To develop CHC-PFP, perfluoropentane (PFP), an ultrasound gas precursor, was
simultaneously encapsulated into the hydrophobic inner cores of pre-formulated CHC micelle in aqueous phase
via using the oil in water (O/W) emulsion method. The size distribution and surface charges of these nanodroplets
were measured and the morphology was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). For ultrasound
imaging application, in vitro model was established to evaluate the imaging of CHC-PFP-DOX under different
concentration and mechanical index. After that, the anti-tumor effect of ultrasound combined with CHC-PFPDOX
on ovarian cancer cells was investigated.
Results:
The resulting CHC-PFP-DOX had a nano-sized particle structure, with hydrophobic anticancer
DOX/PFP inner cores and a hydrophilic carboxymethyl chitosan polymer outer shell. The favorable nano-scaled
size offers the potential to extravagate from veins and accumulate in tumor tissues via enhanced permeation and
retention (EPR) effect. Additionally, CHC-PFP-DOX showed the ability to serve as ultrasound imaging agent at
body temperature. Notably, it exhibited an ultrasound-triggered drug release profile through the external ultrasound
irradiation. Further study demonstrated that ultrasound combined with CHC-PFP-DOX can improve the
killing effect of chemotherapy for tumor.
Conclusion:
CHC-PFP-DOX holds great promise in simultaneous cancer-targeting ultrasound imaging and ultrasound-
mediated delivery for cancer chemotherapy.
Mechanical and antibacterial properties of tannic acid-encapsulated carboxymethyl chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol hydrogels
