Near-infrared light-triggered drug release nanogels for combined photothermal-chemotherapy of cancer

Near-infrared (NIR) light-triggered drug release systems are promising for drug delivery applications in view of the advantages of NIR light, which include high tissue penetration and low damage. In this report, we developed nanogels (NGs) by supramolecular self-assembly from adamantine (AD)-conjugated copolymer, poly[poly(ethylene glycol)monomethyl ether metharcylate]-co-poly(N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide)-co-poly(N-adamantan-1-yl-2-methacrylamide) (PPEGMA-co-PHPMA-co-PADMA), and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD)-functionalized poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer based on the host-guest interaction of the AD and β-CD moieties, and they were used to encapsulate indocyanine green (ICG) and doxorubicin (DOX) for combined photothermal-chemotherapy. NGs simultaneously loading ICG and DOX (DINGs) showed significant photothermal effects and stimuli-triggered drug release under NIR laser irradiation by the photothermal-induced relaxation or dissociation of the NGs. In vitro cytotoxicity evaluation of DINGs under NIR irradiation demonstrated the synergistic effects of hyperthermia, photothermal-triggered drug release, and chemotherapy. In vivo investigation revealed their high accumulation in tumor tissue and significant tumor growth suppression under NIR irradiation. These NIR light-triggered drug release NGs represent efficient and promising anticancer drug vectors for the combined photothermal-chemotherapy of cancer to maximize therapeutic efficacy and minimize side effects.