Preparation and evaluation of paclitaxel-loaded reactive oxygen species and glutathione redox-responsive poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles for controlled release in tumor cells.

To formulate and assess the anticancer effect of the poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) copolymer with the thioether groups (diethyl sulfide [Des]) and disulfide bond (cystamine containing disulfide [Cys]), which encapsulated the anticancer drug paclitaxel (PTX) and triggered PTX release in cancer cell HO-rich or glutathione-rich surroundings. PLGA--P (Des@Cys) and PLGA--P nanoparticles loaded with PTX were prepared and characterized . The delivery ability of the PLGA--P nanoparticles and PLGA--P-PTX nanoparticles was assessed on a CT26 (mouse colon cancer cell line) and mouse lung cancer LLC model. The nanoparticles were successfully prepared. Compared with free PTX, the formulated PLGA--P nanoparticles loaded with PTX exhibited greater accumulation at the tumor site in the mouse model. PLGA--P nanoparticles promote drug accumulation at tumor sites, providing an effective strategy for an intelligent, responsive drug-delivery system.