Prodrug strategy to achieve lyophilizable, high drug loading micelle formulations through diester derivatives of β-Lapachone.

β-Lap prodrug micelle strategy improves the formulation properties of β-lap therapeutics. The resulting micelles yield apparent high β-lap solubility (>7 mg mL(-1) ), physical stability, and ability to reconstitute after lyophilization. In the presence of esterase, β-lap prodrugs are efficiently converted into parent drug (i.e., β-lap), resulting in NQO1-dependent lethality of NSCLC cells.