To mimic the helical structure and function of
biopolymers, shell cross-linked nanoparticle (P4) composed of left-handed helical poly(phenylborate
isocyanide) in core and hydrophilic polyisocyanide in shell was prepared. The phenylborate in the core and the
disulfide bonds in the cross-linkage render the nanoparticle with excellent dual stimuli-responsiveness to
glutathione (GSH) and H2O2. Nevertheless, it has good stability in normal physiological conditions. Because of the helicity and
borate pendants of the core, such nanoparticle has high capacity for anticancer
drug loading, for example, the loading capacity of
doxorubicin (DOX) was up to 68%. Moreover, the DOX-loaded DOX@P4 showed excellent
tumor cell penetration potency and fast drug release. More than 78% of murine
breast cancer cell (4T1) can be killed within 48 h, supporting this material with great potential in
antitumor drug nanocarriers.