Innovative strategies for effective paclitaxel delivery: Recent developments and prospects

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Oncology
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Paclitaxel is a vital chemotherapeutic agent for various cancers.
• Clinical use is limited by poor water solubility, high toxicity, and low patient tolerance.
• Pharmacological carriers are essential to overcome paclitaxel's limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review innovative paclitaxel delivery systems and administration routes.
• To identify promising formulations for enhanced clinical utility.
• To address the inherent limitations of conventional paclitaxel administration.

Main Methods:

• Extensive literature search across multiple electronic databases.
• Comprehensive analysis of identified studies on paclitaxel formulations.
• Review of various drug delivery systems and administration routes.

Main Results:

• Discussed various paclitaxel delivery systems: albumin-bound paclitaxel, polymeric micelles, liposomes, prodrugs, cyclodextrins, and peptide-taxane conjugates.
• Covered diverse administration routes: oral, local applications, and intraperitoneal delivery.
• Highlighted albumin-bound paclitaxel and polymeric micelles as key innovative systems.

Conclusions:

• Polymeric micelles are a highly promising innovative drug delivery system for paclitaxel.
• Albumin-bound paclitaxel is also a significant advancement.
• Multiple polymeric micelle variants are in advanced clinical trial phases.