Targeted delivery of berberine <i>via</i> ROS-sensitive polymersomes enhances its hepatoprotective activity in CCl₄-intoxicated mice.

ABSTRACT: Carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) metabolism results in the production of highly reactive free radicals and consequent liver tissue damage, making CCl₄-induced liver injury an ideal model for studying drug delivery systems that respond to reactive oxygen species (ROS). Previously, we demonstrated the hepatoprotective activity of isoquinoline alkaloid berberine (BER) against CCl₄-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. In this study, we aimed to investigate the targeted delivery of BER to ROS-rich injury site. For this purpose, ROS-responsive polymersomes (PS), built as amphiphilic block copolymers bearing a boronic ester-based ROS sensor connected to the hydrophobic polymer backbone with embedded BER, were synthesized in our laboratory. PS exhibited a suitable particle s

SUBMITTER: Suman I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12687027 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature