Electron paramagnetic resonance highlights that the oxygen effect contributes to the radiosensitizing effect of paclitaxel.

Background: Paclitaxel (PTX) is a potent anti-cancer chemotherapeutic agent and is widely used in the treatments of solid tumors, particularly of the breast and ovaries. An effective and safe micellar formulation of PTX was used to administer higher doses of PTX than Taxol® (the current commercialized drug). We hypothesize that PTX-loaded micelles (M-PTX) may enhance tumor radiosensitivity by increasing the tumor oxygenation (pO(2)).

Active and passive tumor targeting of a novel poorly soluble cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor, JNJ-7706621.

The anti-cancer cyclin dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors are poorly soluble drugs. The aims of this work were (i) to formulate a novel CDK inhibitor, JNJ-7706621, in polymeric micelles and nanoparticles, (ii) to compare passive and active targeting on tumor growth and (iii) to evaluate the potential synergy of JNJ-7706621 with Paclitaxel. Therefore, JNJ-7706621 was encapsulated in self-assembling diblock copolymers made up of epsilon-caprolactone (CL) and trimethylene carbonate (TMC) (PEG-p-(CL-co-TMC)) polymeric micelles and in (poly(lactide-co-glycolide)) (PLGA)-based PEGylated nanoparticles (passive targeting) as well as in RGD-grafted nanoparticles (active targeting).

Novel self-assembling PEG-p-(CL-co-TMC) polymeric micelles as safe and effective delivery system for paclitaxel.

Paclitaxel (PTX) is an effective anti-cancer drug currently used to treat a wide variety of cancers. Unfortunately, nonaqueous vehicle containing Cremophor EL is associated with serious clinical side effects. This work aimed to evaluate the ability of polymeric micelles to (i) solubilize PTX without Cremophor EL and to be used as a (ii) safe and (iii) effective delivery system for PTX.