In Vitro Assessment of a Paclitaxel-Poly(Caprolactone) Drug Delivery System in Endometrial Cancer

Drug delivery systems (DDSs) have grown in popularity for their astute ability to encapsulate a drug into a biocompatible carrier, thus improving targeted and localized delivery to specific tissues. DDSs often increase circulation time and therapeutic effects while also decreasing systemic side effects. In diseases that are difficult to treat with conventional therapies, such as endometrial cancer, DDSs are a promising therapeutic alternative. In this study, a polycaprolactone (PCL) particle loaded with the chemotherapeutic paclitaxel (PTX) was generated as a DDS and investigated for efficacy in the Ishikawa and KLE endometrial cancer cell lines. Dye-loaded particles were used to quantify particle uptake and identify cellular localization. Results indicated that polymeric encapsulation of PTX was achieved and approximately 22% of the cargo was released in the first 48 h, followed by at least 28 days of sustained release. These particles enhanced antiproliferative activity in cells at lower PTX concentrations compared with the free drug. Using a dye-loaded particle, confocal microscopy confirmed intracellular localization of the dye, particularly in the nucleus and cytoplasm, which was also quantified using fluorescence. These data indicate that PCL is a potential polymer for further development of DDS for cancer therapeutics.