pH‐responsive starch microparticles for a tumor‐targeting implant

Much progress has been made toward stimuli‐responsive polysaccharide‐based selective tumor therapy not only because polysaccharides have nontoxic biodegradability and biocompatibility but also because their stimuli‐sensitive characteristics enable the proper transport of payloads into tumors. Here, we attempted to deliver an antitumor drug, doxorubicin (DOX), using starch‐based microparticles coupled with pH‐responsive 3‐(diethylamino)propylamine. The microparticles of starch conjugated with 3‐(diethylamino)propylamine (SDEAP) allowed for the change in hydrophobicity of SDEAPs in a pH‐dependent manner. The results revealed that SDEAPs effectively carried and released DOX and selectively killed tumor cells under acidic condition. Overall, this study suggests that DOX‐loaded SDEAPs can be further explored as a strategy for applications to acidic tumor‐targeting implants owing to the drug‐deliver efficiency and tumor selectivity.