A dual action coumarin-camptothecin polymer for light responsive drug release and photodynamic therapy

A light-responsive polymer allowing the controlled release of camptothecin and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is reported. The polymer was prepared by controlled copolymerisation of water-soluble N,N-dimethyl acrylamide with a bromocoumarin methacrylate monomer. The lipophilic chemotherapy agent camptothecin was caged onto the coumarin unit via a photo-cleavable carbonate ester enabling light-triggered cargo release. The polymer showed good biocompatibility in the dark, and high cancer cell killing activity mediated both by the photo-release of camptothecin and ROS generation. A light-responsive polymer caging the anticancer drug camptothecin was prepared by RAFT polymerisation. The water-soluble polymer efficiently killed cancer cells under irradiation thanks to simultaneous camptothecin uncaging and photodynamic therapy.