Paclitaxel interaction with phospholipid bilayers: high-sensitivity differential scanning calorimetric study

For MLVs dispersions, irrespective of the lipid matrix, the presence of Paclitaxel from 1 to 3 mol% causes the down shift of both pre- (Tp) and main-phase (Tm) transition temperatures and the broadening of the thermograms. The effects are, however, more pronounced on the pre-transition. The interaction of the drug with the lipid multilamellar vesicles is reduced at 5 mol% of Paclitaxel. In ULVs containing charged lipids, i.e., DPPC/PEG:2000-DPPE and DPPC/DPPG mixtures, the presence of Paclitaxel at concentrations ≥3 mol% affects significantly the main transition endothermic scans, with the appearance of side shoulders. The results suggest that the interaction of Paclitaxel is favoured with bilayer vesicles of low radius of curvature and with those containing lipids bearing a net negative charge on the polar heads.