Tumor targeting pH-triggered fluorescence-switchable hyaluronic acid-based micelles with aggregation-induced emission activity for tracing drug release and intelligent drug delivery

In this study, an amphiphilic polymer (Bio-HA(TPE-CN)-mPEG) was designed and synthesized, which was fabricated by introducing hydrophobic aggregation-induced emission (AIE) fluorophore, acid-labile imine bond, methoxy poly (ethylene glycol) (mPEG) and tumor targeting ligand biotin to the backbone of hyaluronic acid. The polymer could self-assemble into micelles and solubilize hydrophobic anticancer drugs. In vitro drug release study indicated that the micelles could disassemble rapidly under acidic environment. The involvement of biotin and HA could enhance the cellular uptake of micelles by tumor cells. Modification of micelles by mPEG could minimize non-specific protein adsorption. Fluorescence studies indicated that the micelles exhibited excellent AIE features and emitted intense long-wavelength fluorescence. More excitingly, the micelles were red emissive in the normal physiological environment, but switched to blue fluorescence in the acidic tumor environment, which could be further applied for real-time monitoring and quantification of the drug release. The in vivo antitumor efficacy study demonstrated the superior antitumor activity of the PTX-loaded micelles. The Bio-HA (TPE-CN)-mPEG micelles were promising drug carriers for chemotherapy and bioimaging.