Preparation and Property Study of the pH-Sensitive K5 Polysaccharide-Doxorubicin Prodrug

Abstract:

In this study, K5 polysaccharide (heparosan) was conjugated with anticancer drug DOX via hydrazone bond to obtain pH-sensitive K5-hydrazone-DOX (KHD) prodrug. The drug loaded capacity, morphology, and in vitro drug release were investigated. Its in vitro cytotoxicity and cellular uptake against HeLa cells were also evaluated. The results showed that the DOX content of KHD is 18.0%. The release rate of DOX at pH 5.0 was much faster than that at pH 7.4, revealing a pH-triggered release manner. The KHD prodrug could achieve intracellular delivery and showed effective cytotoxicity in vitro. This study indicates that the KHD prodrug may be a potential candidate for cancer therapy.