pH-Responsive Isoprenoid-Antitumoral Polymer Conjugates for Superior Drug Loading via Self-Assembly and Endosomal-Targeted Anticancer Activity

Abstract

Polymer-drug conjugates (PDCs) are a promising strategy to enhance the delivery of poorly soluble drugs, particularly in cancer therapy. By improving solubility and enabling site-specific accumulation, PDCs minimize systemic toxicity while maximizing therapeutic efficacy. PDCs often employ stimuli-responsive linkers, such as Schiff's bases, to achieve controlled drug release in tumor microenvironments or acidic intracellular compartments. In this study, we designed a novel PDC by conjugating the anticancer agent farnesal (Far) to ∈-Poly-L-Lysine (PL) via an imine bond, without using additional linkers. PL is a natural, biodegradable, water-soluble polymer with inherent anticancer properties, while Far is a hydrophobic isoprenoid with potent antitumor activity. The conjugate (Far-PL) displayed pH-responsive behavior, remaining stable at physiological pH but releasing drugs under acidic tumor (pH 6.5) and endosomal (pH 5.5) conditions. Far-PL exhibited enhanced cytotoxicity against A549 lung cancer cells compared to its components alone, while showing reduced toxicity towards noncancerous cells (Arlo cells). The amphiphilicity allows the conjugate to self-assemble into stable nanoparticles with a positive surface charge, narrow size distribution, and 100% drug content—clearly exceeding conventional nanoparticles (5–10 wt%). This effective PDC design demonstrates strong potential to maximize tumor-selective activity while minimizing off-target effects, offering a promising platform for future cancer therapeutics.