Hybrid polymeric micelles based on bioactive polypeptides as pH-responsive delivery systems against melanoma

The bioactive polymer poly(l-glutamic acid)n-b-poly(d, l-lactic acid)m was synthesized and used to form doxorubicin-loaded hybrid polymeric micelles to treat melanoma. These polymers exhibited pH-responsive changes in conformation, which controlled the diverse functionalities of the micelles. During circulation, poly(l-glutamic acid)n-b-poly(d, l-lactic acid)m protected Tat peptides on the micelles from proteolysis. Under tumor-acidic conditions, polymers with shorter poly(l-glutamic acid) blocks underwent a conformational change to form channels that accelerated the release of doxorubicin. The conformational change also exposed the Tat peptides to tumor cells, thereby promoting cellular internalization of the micelles. Enhanced cellular uptake of the micelles induced significant apoptosis of A375 melanoma cells in tumor-acidic conditions. In vivo studies demonstrated that the micelles with shorter poly(l-glutamic acid) blocks could effectively accumulate in tumor tissues, suppress tumor growth and help maintain the body weight of tumor-bearing mice. However, micelles with longer poly(l-glutamic acid) blocks did not undergo a conformational change under acidic conditions and performed poorly in both in vitro and in vivo evaluations. Our work provides a strategy for applying bioactive polymers to the rational construction of pH-responsive delivery systems for solid tumors and lends insight into possible conformational effects on the bioactivity of drug carriers.