pH-Sensitive tumor-targeted hyperbranched system based on glycogen nanoparticles for liver cancer therapy

Abstract A multifunctionalized nanodevice based on natural hyperbranched glycogen nanoparticles had been fabricated for tumor therapy. Glycogen nanoparticles were decorated with liver cancer cell-targeted agent β-galactose and anticancer drug doxorubicin via schiff-base reaction. It was found that the glycogen nanocarrier could be taken by liver cancer cell selectively owing to galactose-ASGPR binding. After endocytosis, drug could be released from nanoparticles due to the cleavage of hydrazone-based bond at acidic tumor cell environment. The in vivo study demonstrated that this glycogen based drug delivery system minimized uptake and drug leakage in normal organs, enhanced accumulation and efficient drug release at tumor sites, inhibiting tumor growth with only slight retention in normal liver tissues. This strategy on exploiting glycogen nanoparticles as anticancer drug vehicle provides alternative platform for on-demand and targeted cancer therapy.