Polymerization‐Induced Self‐Assembly to Produce Prodrug Nanoparticles with Reduction‐Responsive Camptothecin Release and pH‐Responsive Charge‐Reversible Property

Polymerization‐induced self‐assembly has been demonstrated to be a powerful strategy for fabricating polymeric nanoparticles in the last two decades. However, the stringent requirements for the monomers greatly limit the chemical versatility of PISA‐based functional nanoparticles and expanding the monomer family of PISA is still highly desirable. Herein, a camptothecin analogue (CPTM) is first used as the monomer in PISA. Prodrug nanoparticles with reduction‐responsive camptothecin release behavior are fabricated at 10% solid concentration (100 mg g−1). Poly(N‐(2‐hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide) (PHPMA) and poly(2‐(diethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) (PDEAEMA) are used as the macro RAFT agents to comediate the RAFT dispersion polymerization of CPTM in ethanol to produce the PHPMA/PDEAEMA‐stabilized nanoparticles. The PDEAEMA chains become hydrophobic and are in the collapsed state at physiological pH values. In contrast, in the vicinity of an acidic tumor, the tertiary amine groups of PDEAEMA chains are rapidly protonated, leading to fast hydrophobic‐hydrophilic transitions and charge reversal. Such fast charge‐reversal results in enhanced cancer cell internalization of the prodrug nanoparticles, thus achieving superior anticancer efficacy. A camptothecin analogue is first used as the monomer in polymerization‐induced self‐assembly. Prodrug nanoparticles with reduction‐responsive camptothecin release behavior and tumor acidity responsive charge‐reversal are fabricated at 10% solid concentration (100 mg g−1). Fast charge‐reversal results in enhanced cancer cell internalization of the prodrug nanoparticles, thus achieving superior anticancer efficacy.