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Updated: Jan 21, 2026

Modulating Shape of Polyester Based Polymersomes using Osmotic Pressure
Published on: April 21, 2021
Folate-conjugated pluronic/polylactic acid polymersomes for oral delivery of paclitaxel
Xiao Qian Pan1, Yan Chun Gong1, Zi Ling Li1
1School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Life Science, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang 330013, China.
Abstract:
Cancer chemotherapy and the patient's life will be more convenient if oral administration of anti-cancer drugs can be achieved. The feasibility of folate-targeted Pluronic F127/polylactic acid (FA-F127-PLA) polymersomes as the oral delivery carriers of paclitaxel (PTX) has been explored in this study. PTX loaded in FA-F127-PLA and PLA-F127-PLA polymersomes showed biphasic release behaviors in simulated gastric and intestinal fluids. PTX loaded in FA-F127-PLA polymersomes exhibited higher cytotoxicity and cellular uptake than PTX loaded in PLA-F127-PLA polymersomes. In vivo pharmacokinetic studies in rats showed that oral PTX loaded in FA-F127-PLA polymersomes had a higher bioavailability than oral PTX loaded in PLA-F127-PLA polymersomes. D-α-tocopheryl poly(ethylene glycol) 1000 succinate (TPGS or Vitamin E TPGS) was also added to the FA-F127-PLA polymersomes as an optimization agent. Compared with PTX-loaded FA-F127-PLA polymersome, PTX-loaded FA-F127-PLA/TPGS mixed polymersomes showed even better cytotoxic ability, more cellular uptake and higher bioavailability. The above results indicate that FA-F127-PLA and FA-F127-PLA/TPGS mixed polymersomes could be good candidates for the oral delivery carrier of anti-cancer drugs.
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