Thioanisole ester based logic gate cascade to control ROS-triggered micellar degradation.

ABSTRACT: In certain tumor and diseased tissues, reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as H₂O₂, are produced in higher concentrations than in healthy cells. Drug delivery and release systems that respond selectively to the presence of ROS, while maintaining their stability in "healthy" biological conditions, have great potential as on-site therapeutics. This study presents polymer micelles with 4-(methylthio)phenyl ester functionalities as a ROS-responsive reactivity switch. Oxidation of the thioether moieties triggers ester hydrolysis, exposing a hydrophylic carboxylate and leading to micellar disassembly. At 37 °C, the micelles fall apart on a timescale of days in the presence of 2 mM H₂O₂ and within hours at higher concentrations of H₂O_2</

SUBMITTER: Piergentili I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9016795 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature