Kinetic control over co-self-assembly using an in situ dynamic covalent reaction resulting in a synergistic chemo-photodynamic therapy




Wu Xiaoxia, Xing Jie, Lyu Yonglei, Yu Jingjing, Yang Jinghui, Qi Dawei, Wang Xin, Lin Jie, Shao Guoliang, Wu Aiguo, Li Jianwei

PublisherCell Press

2023

Cell Reports Physical Science

Cell Reports Physical Science

101598

4

10

2666-3864

2666-3864

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.xcrp.2023.101598

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266638642300406X?via%3Dihub

https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/181499186



Multicomponent self-assembly offers a strategy to explore ordered, complex, and dynamic nanosystems and to harness the property of the whole system beyond that of each subcomponent. However, the spontaneous nature of co-self-assembly makes control of the process difficult. Here, we use a thiol-disulfide exchange reaction as an in situ dynamic covalent reaction to slowly produce disulfide macrocycles that subsequently trigger the co-self-assembly with an anticancer drug and a photosensitizer. The gradual concentration growth of products shows kinetic control over the concentration of self-assembling disulfides, resulting in a stable co-delivery nanosystem with high drug-loading efficiency (31.78%) and encapsulation efficiency (95.91%). The nanosystem possesses biocompatibility, tumor-accumulating ability, and biosafety and shows a synergistic chemotherapeutic and photodynamic anticancer effect in vitro and in vivo. Our findings suggest that in situ dynamic covalent chemistry advances control over co-self-assembly, paving the way to more functional nanosystems with potential applications in biomedicine, electronics, and renewable energy.


Last updated on 2025-27-03 at 22:01