Facile Synthesis of Peptide Cross-Linked Nanogels for Tumor Metastasis Inhibition

Cancer metastasis is one of the major factors contributing to high mortality, and here we designed and synthesized a peptide cross-linked nanogel for hydrophilic functional molecule encapsulation and tumor metastasis inhibition. In this investigation, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2)-responsive peptide cross-linker is prepared by coupling acrylate-functional groups at both peptide terminals. The peptide cross-linked nanogel is then synthesized by free radical precipitation polymerization using N -isopropylacrylamide as the scaffold. Meanwhile, the hydrophilic tumor metastasis inhibition peptide P-5m is encapsulated into the nanogel in the one-pot synthesis step without complex cooperation. Importantly, the size-uniformed and narrow-distributed nanogel exhibits high P-5m loading capacity (43.4%). Interestingly, the nanogel is stable in vitro and in vivo, showing excellent and specific MMP2-triggered payload release property. As expected, the nanogel suppresses cancer cell migration and invasion in high performance, ultimately achieving remarkable tumor metastasis inhibition in vivo.