Nanogel systems based on heparin and pluronics for redox-responsive delivery of poorly water-soluble drugs in cancer treatment

Many existing drugs, which are effective in anticancer such as paclitaxel (PTX), docetaxel (DTX), and campothecin (CPC), are limited in clinical applications due to their poor water solubility. This study aimed to design a nanocarrier system for the efficient delivery of poorly soluble drugs in cancer treatment. Nanogel systems were prepared from copolymers of Heparin and different Pluronics, in which the Hep-Plu conjugates were formed via disulfide bridges of cystamine molecules. The obtained Hep-Plu systems were proved and characterized using specific techniques including H-NMR, zeta potential, DLS and FT-IR. Pluronics with different numbers of polypropylene oxide (PPO) and polyethylene oxide (PEO) units such as L64, F68 and F108 were investigated to improve the poorly soluble drug loading capacity of the Hep-Plu system. Besides, the drug release profile in response to redox potential thanks to the disulfide bridges presented in Hep-Plu system was also evaluated. This Hep-Plu nanogel system is expected to be a promising carrier for redox-responsive delivery of poorly water-soluble drugs in cancer treatment.