Improving Efficacy, Oral Bioavailability, and Delivery of Paclitaxel Using Protein-Grafted Solid Lipid Nanoparticles

Area of Science:

• Nanotechnology
• Drug Delivery
• Oncology

Background:

• Oral drug delivery of hydrophobic anticancer agents like paclitaxel (PTX) is challenging due to poor bioavailability and toxicity.
• Developing effective oral formulations requires overcoming hydrophobicity and enhancing targeted delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop wheat germ agglutinin (WGA)-conjugated, solid lipid nanoparticles for improved oral delivery of paclitaxel (PTX).
• To enhance PTX loading efficiency and anticancer activity against lung cancer cells.
• To evaluate the oral bioavailability and lung targetability of the developed nanocarrier system.

Main Methods:

• Conjugation of WGA to solid lipid nanoparticles loaded with PTX.
• In vitro evaluation of anticancer activity against A549 lung cancer cells.
• In vivo biodistribution studies in rats to assess oral bioavailability and lung accumulation.

Main Results:

• WGA-conjugated, PTX-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (LPSN) showed enhanced internalization and anticancer activity compared to free PTX.
• LPSN demonstrated significantly improved oral bioavailability of PTX.
• Biodistribution studies confirmed enhanced lung targetability of PTX delivered via LPSN.

Conclusions:

• WGA-conjugated solid lipid nanoparticles represent a promising strategy for enhancing oral delivery of hydrophobic anticancer drugs.
• The developed nanocarrier system improves drug bioavailability and targets the lungs, offering potential for improved lung cancer therapy.