Nanofibrous Polydioxanone Depots for Prolonged Intraperitoneal Paclitaxel Delivery

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Cancer Therapeutics

Background:

• Sustained localized chemotherapy is crucial for treating solid tumors.
• Peritoneal metastasis, particularly in ovarian cancer, requires effective localized drug delivery strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop implantable polymeric depots using electrospinning for sustained drug delivery to the peritoneum.
• To evaluate the feasibility of these depots for treating peritoneal metastasis.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of non-woven electrospun mats from Polydioxanone loaded with Paclitaxel using conventional electrospinning.
• Assessment of morphology, mechanical properties, degradation, and in vitro drug release in buffer and patient peritoneal fluid.
• In vivo evaluation of implant safety and drug release kinetics in mice.

Main Results:

• Electrospun Polydioxanone mats (0.65±0.07 mm thick, ~20 mg) with 87.82±2.54% Paclitaxel entrapment were successfully fabricated.
• In vitro studies showed sustained release for ~4 weeks in buffer, with a higher burst release (>60%) in patient samples.
• In vivo studies demonstrated good mechanical integrity, safety, and sustained drug retention in peritoneal tissues.

Conclusions:

• Biodegradable Polydioxanone electrospun mats are suitable for creating easily implantable drug depots.
• These depots offer a promising approach to address peritoneal metastasis challenges in ovarian cancer.
• The developed system facilitates localized, sustained chemotherapy delivery to the peritoneal cavity.