Self-assembled nanoscale upconversion POP composite for hypoxia relieving and enhanced chemotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma

Uncontrolled proliferations and altered metabolism of cancer cells result an imbalance of nutrients as well as oxygen supply and persuade hypoxia. This hypoxia in turn activates the transcription gene HIF-1α which eventually upregulates the efflux transporter P-gp and induce MDR. Thus, hypoxia leads to resistance towards conventional therapy methods. Therefore, the fabrication of a nanoscale porous system enriched with upconversion nanoparticle to target the cancer cells, evade hypoxia and enhanced anticancer therapy is the key goal of this chapter. Herein, the upconversion nanoparticles are embedded with the nanoscale POP and further conjugated with targeting moiety and also with catalase molecule. The nanoscale POP embedded with UCNPs are generated in room temperature. Targeting ligand lactobionic acid is attached after polymer coating which effectively targets liver cancer cells. Then catalase is grafted effectively produces oxygen. The endogenously generated oxygen alleviates the hypoxia of the liver cancer cells. The drug and catalase-loaded composite exhibits more cytotoxicity in case of hypoxic liver cells than the normal cells by overcoming hypoxia and downregulating the hypoxia inducible factors.