A folate receptor-targeted liposomal formulation for paclitaxel

A novel liposomal formulation of paclitaxel targeting the folate receptor (FR) was synthesized and characterized. This formulation was designed to overcome vehicle toxicity associated with the traditional Cremophor EL-based formulation and to provide the added advantages of prolonged systemic circulation time and selective targeting of the FR, which is frequently overexpressed on epithelial cancer cells. The formulation had the composition of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine/dimyristoyl phosphatidylglycerol/monomethoxy-polyethylene glycol (PEG)2000-distearoyl phosphatidylethanolamine/folate-PEG3350-distearoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (DPPC/DMPG/mPEG-DSPE/folate-PEG-DSPE) at molar ratios of (85.5:9.5:4.5:0.5) and a drug-to-lipid molar ratio of 1:33. The liposomes were prepared by polycarbonate membrane extrusion. The mean particle size of the liposomes was 97.1 nm and remained stable for at least 72 h at 4 degrees C. FR-targeted liposomes of the same lipid composition entrapping calcein were shown to be efficiently taken up by KB oral carcinoma cells, which are highly FR+. FR-targeted liposomes containing paclitaxel showed 3.8-fold greater cytotoxicity compared to non-targeted control liposomes in KB cells. Plasma clearance profiles of paclitaxel in the liposomal formulations were then compared to paclitaxel in Cremophor EL formulation. The liposomal formulations showed much longer terminal half-lives (12.33 and 14.23 h for FR-targeted and non-targeted liposomes, respectively) than paclitaxel in Cremophor EL (1.78 h). In conclusion, the paclitaxel formulation described in this study has substantial stability and favorable pharmacokinetic properties. The FR-targeted paclitaxel formulation is potentially useful for treatment of FR+ tumors and warrants further investigation.