Paclitaxel delivery system based on poly(lactide-co-glycolide) microparticles and chitosan thermo-sensitive gel for mammary adenocarcinoma treatment.
OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the combination of more than one release system in the same formulation as a useful strategy to achieve paclitaxel delivery in a more sustained and controlled manner.


METHODS
The present study deals with the preparation of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) microparticles loaded with paclitaxel and included in a chitosan thermo-sensitive gelling solution. The microparticles were characterized by their size, shape and drug loading. The formulation was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, in vitro release experiments and was evaluated in mice bearing mammary adenocarcinoma.


KEY FINDINGS
The formation of paclitaxel crystals in a pharmaceutical formulation reduces its efficacy. In this work, the use of microparticles avoided this phenomenon. Combining more than one delivery system allowed delivering paclitaxel in a more sustained and controlled manner leading to a long-term effect in the site of action. The formulation showed an inhibition in tumour volume of 63.0% in comparison with the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
One intratumour injection of gelling solution containing the microparticles was at least as efficacious as four intraperitoneal injections of a commercial formulation. In addition, the delivery system was nontoxic, and the treated mice presented the highest percentage of tumour regression and median survival time.
['Pesoa|Juan I|JI|', 'Rico|María J|MJ|', 'Rozados|Viviana R|VR|', 'Scharovsky|O Graciela|OG|', 'Luna|Julio A|JA|', 'Mengatto|Luciano N|LN|http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2214-2451']
D000230:Adenocarcinoma D000818:Animals D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical D048271:Chitosan D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations D004337:Drug Carriers D004339:Drug Compounding D065546:Drug Liberation D005260:Female D005782:Gels D007700:Kinetics D015674:Mammary Neoplasms, Animal D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C D017239:Paclitaxel D010316:Particle Size D011098:Polyglactin 910 D013696:Temperature D047368:Tumor Burden
paclitaxel poly(lactide-co-glycolide) microparticle chitosan hydrogel mammary cancer