Redox-responsive hyaluronic acid-based nanoparticles for targeted photodynamic therapy/chemotherapy against breast cancer

Specific cellular uptake and sufficient drug release in tumor tissues are important for effective cancer therapy. Hyaluronic acid (HA), a skeleton material, could specifically bind to cluster determinant 44 (CD44) receptors highly expressed on the surface of tumor cells to realize active targeting. Cystamine (cys) is sensitive highly reductive environment inside tumor cells and was used as a connecting arm to connect docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)...