Redox-responsive micelles from disulfide bond-bridged hyaluronic acid-tocopherol succinate for the treatment of melanoma

Redox-responsive conjugates of disulfide bond-bridged hyaluronic acid-tocopherol succinate (HA-ss-TOS) micelles were engineered in this study. The paclitaxel (PTX) self-assembly nano-micelles exhibited satisfactory morphology and size. They are able to accumulate at tumor sites via the EPR effect and penetrate intracellularly through CD44 induced endocytosis. Redox sensitivity is responsible for the disassembly of nanoconjugates and burst drug release inside the cells, where dissociated TOS showed synergistic anti-tumor effects with PTX.152