Photoresponsive PAMAM-Assembled Nanocarrier Loaded with Autophagy Inhibitor for Synergistic Cancer Therapy.

As one of the most promising drug-delivery carriers due to its small size, easy surface modifiability, and hydrophobic interior, cationic poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) per se, demonstrated by previous reports and the authors' present study, indicate potential anticancer capability, however, which are restricted by autophagy elicitation. Besides, its side-toxicity profile, having also been extensively documented, limits its translation into the clinic. Herein, the authors design a photoresponsive PAMAM-assembled nanoparticle loaded with the autophagy inhibitor (chloroquine, CQ), which exhibits light responsiveness for precisely controlling drug release and superior dark biosafety. Upon light irradiation, the nanoparticle can dissociate into charged small PAMAM for a significant antitumor effect. Meanwhile, the released CQ can inhibit pro-survival autophagy induced by PAMAM to achieve an excellent synergistic anticancer efficacy in vitro and in vivo. The authors' study provided a vision of utilizing PAMAM as self-carried anticancer therapeutics in combination with an autophagy inhibitor and proposing a cancer therapy with high antitumor efficacy and low side effects to normal tissues.