Doxorubicin-conjugated chimeric polypeptide nanoparticles that respond to mild hyperthermia

This paper reports the design, physicochemical characterization and in vitro cytotoxicity of a thermally responsive chimeric polypeptide (CP), derived from an elastin-like polypeptide (ELP). The CP self-assembles into ~ 40 nm diameter nanoparticles upon conjugation of multiple copies of doxorubicin (Dox), and displays a nanoparticle-to-aggregate phase transition between 39 and 42 °C in media, a temperature range suitable for mild hyperthermia of solid tumors. The CP-Dox nanoparticle is stable upon dilution to low micromolar concentrations, and is cytotoxic at both 37 and 42 °C. A thermally responsive nanoparticle formulation of Dox may prove to be broadly useful in hyperthermia targeted chemotherapy of a variety of solid tumors.