Enhancing Accumulation and Penetration of HPMA Copolymer–Doxorubicin Conjugates in 2D and 3D Prostate Cancer Cells via iRGD Conjugation with an MMP‑2 Cleavable Spacer

To enhance the accumulation and penetration of nanomedicines in tumor tissue, we developed and evaluated the biological properties of matrix metallo­proteinase 2 (MMP-2)-responsive <i>N-</i>(2-hydroxy­propyl)­meth­acryl­amide (HPMA) copolymer drugs and tumor-penetrating peptide conjugates (P-DOX-PLGLAG-iRGD). Two different spacers were used in the design: a lysosomally (cathepsin B) cleavable tetrapeptide GFLG spacer conjugated doxorubicin (DOX) to HPMA copolymer, and an MMP-2-degradable linker (PLGLAG) connected tumor-homing and -penetrating cyclic peptide iRGD to HPMA copolymer. The accumulation of DOX in P-DOX-PLGLAG-iRGD-treated monolayer (2D) and multilayer (3D) DU-145 prostate cancer cells was higher than that of control groups (P-DOX and P-DOX + iRGD). The cell cycle arrest analysis and cytotoxicity data demonstrated that P-DOX-PLGLAG-iRGD produced a higher G2/M arrest and possessed stronger cytotoxicity against DU-145 cells than P-DOX + iRGD or P-DOX, which was consistent with the drug uptake results. Similarly, P-DOX-PLGLAG-iRGD demonstrated the highest penetration ability in 3D multicellular DU-145 tumor cell spheroids. The results indicate that covalent conjugation of iRGD via MMP-2-sensitive bonds enhances accumulation and penetration of nanomedicines into tumor cell monolayers and spheroids