An enzyme-responsive hydrogel functionalized with mesoporous silica nanoparticles for co-delivery of cisplatin and shRNA to overcome chemotherapy resistance in non-small cell lung cancer.

Chemoresistance poses a critical challenge in cancer therapy across diverse tumor types, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), where chemotherapy-induced neuroendocrine differentiation (NED) of tumor cells plays a pivotal role in acquiring treatment resistance. This process significantly reduces chemotherapy efficacy, accelerates tumor progression, and ultimately worsens patient survival outcomes. The complex mechanisms underlying chemoresistance involve multiple factors, including enhanced DNA repair pathways, increased drug efflux capacity, and alterations in gene expression. Additionally, the tumor microenvironment, a dynamic ecosystem surrounding cancer cells, fosters a protective niche that exacerbates chemotherapy resistance. To address this challenge, we propose an innovative nanocomposite hydrogel system for the co-delivery of cisplatin and short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5), a key gene implicated in drug resistance. This system utilizes polyethyleneimine-modified mesoporous silica nanoparticles, which serve as nanocarriers, encapsulating cisplatin within the mesopores and coating the surface with methacryloylated hyaluronic acid (HA-MA). The design enables tumor microenvironment-responsive drug release, triggered by hyaluronidase enzymes abundant within the tumor, resulting in nanoparticle disassembly and the release of cisplatin. Simultaneously, the delivery of shRNA silences PRMT5 expression, enhancing chemosensitivity. By integrating targeted gene therapy with chemotherapy, this system offers a promising strategy for overcoming chemoresistance in NSCLC. Targeting both cancer cells and their microenvironment, this approach holds potential to transform the treatment of chemotherapy-resistant cancers, advancing more effective and personalized oncological therapies.