Nanoparticle-Stabilized Oxygen Microcapsules Prepared by Interfacial Polymerization for Enhanced Oxygen Delivery.

Abstract

Most tumors have more severe hypoxia levels than normal tissues and tumor hypoxia is considered as a useful untapped target for cancer treatment. Here, we develop an effective oxygen delivery vehicle of polydopamine-nanoparticle-stabilized oxygen microcapsules by interfacial polymerization. The oxygen microcapsules have excellent biocompatibility and are dispersed in aqueous solution. Oxygen could easily diffuse out from the microcapsules, thus increasing and maintaining the microenvironment at an oxygen-rich state. In vitro cell cultures confirm that oxygen microcapsules could effectively improve the hypoxia microenvironment, showing the lowest fluorescent intensity of hypoxia-green-labeled cells. When injected subcutaneously in vivo, oxygen microcapsules could also improve the tumor s hypoxia microenvironment, thus suppressing the growth of tumor. Synergetic therapy using oxygen microcapsules and gemcitabine drugs proves to be an effective way for tumor treatment, showing the best performance in suppressing the tumor s growth.