Cellulose-based fluorescent micelles for the visible loading and releasing of paclitaxel

The aim of this work was to develop a novel fluorescent micelle using an amphiphilic cellulose-based functional material (i.e. C-g-PLLA/AFC) to enable the visualization of drug loading and releasing, while enhancing the aqueous solubility and anti-tumor activity of paclitaxel (PTX). PTX was encapsulated in self-assembled C-g-PLLA/AFC micelles with optimal encapsulation efficiency and drug loading values of 90.40 % and 22.60 %, respectively. The fluorescence spectra showed an increase in fluorescence intensity with the increase of drug loading, confirming the successful loading of the PTX and enabling the visualization of PTX encapsulation. Meanwhile, The PTX-loaded micelles exhibited sustained release under simulated normal blood (pH 7.4) and tumor tissue microenvironment (pH 6.2) conditions, with cumulative drug release rates of 70.85 % and 90.20 % after 144 h, respectively. Fluorescence intensity increases during PTX release, which providing direct visualization of the process. Both drug loading and releasing are linked to changes in the aggregation state of fluorophores, enabling the visualization of these events. Anti-tumor cell experiments conducted with PTX-loaded micellar solutions demonstrated significant cytotoxicity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells. These findings highlight the potential of C-g-PLLA/AFC micelles as efficient carriers for hydrophobic drugs, offering visible monitoring capability for drug loading and releasing.