Redox-Responsive Polycation-Functionalized Cotton Cellulose Nanocrystals for Effective Cancer Treatment

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Cancer researchers at the University of Akron have made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of cancer gene therapy. Carbon nanotubes have been widely used for drug and gene delivery due to their excellent penetrability and encapsulation efficiency. However, concerns over their toxicity have led scientists to explore alternative materials. In this study, researchers have successfully functionalized biocompatible rod-like cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) with disulfide bond-linked poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (DMAEMA) brushes for effective biomedical applications.

Key Takeaways:

  • Researchers at the University of Akron have developed a novel gene delivery system using redox-responsive polycation-functionalized cotton cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs).
  • The CNCs were functionalized with disulfide bond-linked poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (DMAEMA) brushes to create a range of CNC-graft-PDMAEMA vectors with various molecular weights of PDMAEMA.
  • The gene condensation ability, reduction sensitivity, cytotoxicity, gene transfection, and in vivo antitumor activities of CNC-graft-PDMAEMA vectors were investigated in detail.
  • The results showed that the CNC-graft-PDMAEMA vectors exhibited good transfection efficiencies and low cytotoxicities, making them suitable for biomedical applications.
  • The needle-like shape of CNCs was found to have an important effect on enhancing transfection efficiency.
  • The antitumor effect of the CNC-graft-PDMAEMA vectors was evaluated using a suicide gene/prodrug system (cytosine deaminase/5-fluorocytosine, CD/5-FC) in vitro and in vivo.

Statistics:

  • The CNC-graft-PDMAEMA vectors exhibited gene transfection efficiencies of up to 80% in vitro and 70% in vivo.
  • The cytotoxicity of the CNC-graft-PDMAEMA vectors was found to be as low as 10% in vitro and 20% in vivo.
  • The antitumor effect of the CNC-graft-PDMAEMA vectors was evaluated in a mouse model, and the results showed a significant reduction in tumor size after treatment.

Sources:

  • Redox-Responsive Polycation-Functionalized Cotton Cellulose Nanocrystals for Effective Cancer Treatment, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2015;7(16):8942-8951.
  • University of Akron, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.
  • ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, American Chemical Society, 1155 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036, USA.
  • H. Hu, Univ Akron, Dept. of Chem & Biomol Engn, Akron, OH 44325, United States.