Redox-responsive hyaluronan-conjugated polypyrrole nanoparticles targeting chemo-photothermal therapy for breast cancer

The combination of chemo-photothermal therapy has a wide application prospect in the intensive treatment of cancer. In this study, we developed a complex nanoparticle consist of polypyrrole, cystine dihydrochloride and hyaluronan. The polypyrrole nanoparticles loaded with paclitaxel exhibited good photothermal effects, and the drug release can be triggered by combined response of temperature and redox. In vitro biological studies indicated the nanoparticles could effectively induced apoptosis of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells involved in the potential mechanism of inhibition of biological expression of heat shock proteins and JAK-STAT signaling pathway. In addition, the nanoparticles have a significant inhibitory effect on cancer growth in breast tumor-bearing mice model, indicating that they have great potential for synergistic chemo-photothermal therapy.