Antitumor efficacy, tumor distribution and blood pharmacokinetics of chitosan/glyceryl-monooleate nanostructures containing paclitaxel.

Aims: This investigation compared the tumor distribution, efficacy, blood pharmacokinetic parameters and hematological alterations following treatment with chitosan/glyceryl-monooleate (GMO) nanostructures containing paclitaxel (PTX) to a conventional formulation of PTX (Taxol(®)) in BALB/c female mice.

Materials & Methods: The tumor and blood concentrations of PTX were evaluated by HPLC and the pharmacokinetic parameters were determined through noncompartmental methods. Tumor development was evaluated by histopathological methods and hematological composition was monitored through differential white blood cells counts.

Results: Lower localized or intravenous doses of PTX-chitosan/GMO nanostructures significantly increased the antitumor activity of paclitaxel. The tumor distribution studies showed effective concentrations in the tumors with the chitosan/GMO formulation while systemic blood levels remained lower than after administration of the conventional formulation.

Conclusion: Delivery systems consisting of chitosan/GMO and PTX are safe and effective administered locally (intratumorally) or intravenously.