A unique highly hydrophobic anticancer prodrug self-assembled nanomedicine for cancer therapy

Different from traditional idea, we designed and synthesized a highly hydrophobic reduction-sensitive docetxel prodrug with a disulfide bond inserted into the linker between docetaxel and vitamin E, which could self-assemble in water to form self-assembled nanoparticles without the help of surface active substances. Compared with a docetaxel Tween80-containing formulation, the unique nanomedicine had many advantages, including high drug payload, advanced stability, superior reproducibility, low toxicty, prolonged circulation and increased therapeutic efficacy. The highly reproducible self-assembled nanoparticles prepared by simple nanoprecipitation technology are more attractive and effective nanomedicines, and might be a promising nano-drug delivery system for other anticancer drug.210