Delivery of paclitaxel using nanoparticles composed of poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(butylene oxide) (PEO-PBO)

An amphiphilic block copolymer poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(butylene oxide) (PEO-PBO) was evaluated as a carrier for therapeutic delivery of paclitaxel (PTX). PEO-PBO and PTX form nanoparticles (NPs) by self-assembly upon hydration. The size of these NPs was about 92.71nm and the zeta potential was -5.06mV, which met the requirements for passive tumor targeting through the enhanced permeability and retention effect. Compared with a commonly used block copolymer poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly-D,L-(lactic acid) (PEG-PDLLA), PEO-PBO forms nanoparticles with superior pharmacokinetic, biodistribution, and tumor inhibitory properties. Meanwhile, results of hemolysis study and CMC determination showed that PEO-PBO had better biocompatibility and stability than PEG-PDLLA. These data suggest that PEO-PBO has potential for application in drug delivery and warrant further evaluation.