Pioneering Paclitaxel Delivery: Next-generation Protein Nanocarriers for Transformative Cancer Therapy

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Oncology

Background:

• Paclitaxel (PTX) is an antimitotic drug with limitations including poor solubility, lack of targeting, and toxicity.
• Protein-based nanocarriers offer a promising alternative to overcome these challenges in cancer therapy.
• These nanocarriers enhance solubility, circulation time, tumor targeting, and reduce systemic side effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the advancements in protein-based nanocarriers for paclitaxel (PTX) delivery in cancer treatment.
• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of these nanocarriers in preclinical and clinical settings.
• To identify challenges and future directions for protein-based nanocarrier development.

Main Methods:

• An extensive literature review was conducted using PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar (2015-2025).
• Search terms included paclitaxel, protein nanoparticles, and cancer therapy, with specific inclusion/exclusion criteria applied.
• Patent searches were performed using Google Patents and Espacenet.

Main Results:

• Protein nanocarriers significantly improve PTX solubility, encapsulation, and tumor accumulation via passive and active targeting.
• Examples include Abraxane®, pH/redox-responsive gelatin systems, and folate-targeted zein nanoparticles with increased oral bioavailability.
• Clinical and preclinical studies demonstrate superior antitumor activity and reduced toxicity compared to free paclitaxel.

Conclusions:

• Protein nanocarriers offer a versatile platform for drug delivery, addressing limitations of conventional PTX formulations.
• Challenges remain in scale production, controlled release, stability, and drug loading.
• Next-generation protein nanocarriers hold significant promise for precision oncology, improving therapeutic index and patient outcomes.