The polymer-drug conjugate with controlled drug release, such as arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD)-decorated polyethylene glycol (PEG)-paclitaxel (PTX) conjugates containing disulfide linkage, can be used for gastric cancer therapy. The amphiphilic PEG-PTX conjugates can assemble into micelles, RGD@Micelles, and then decompose under the reduction of glutathione (GSH) and finally release PTX in weakly acidic conditions in intracellular environment. The RGD@Micelles, the spherical nanoparticles with an average hydrodynamic size of ˜50 nm, are stable in physiological environment. Researcher investigated the release of PTX from the micelles in response to GSH.
The in vitro cell experiment revealed that the RGD@Micelles can target the gastric cancer cells and inhibit cell proliferation by inducing cell apoptosis, while the in vivo experiments suggested that the RGD@Micelles can be delivered to the tumor site and inhibit tumor growth efficiently by releasing PTX into the tumor cells. Owing to their high therapeutic efficacy and low side effects, the RGD@Micelles is a promising field for targeted drug delivery for gastric cancer therapy.