Preparation and characterization of polymeric pH-sensitive STEALTH® nanoparticles for tumor delivery of a lipophilic prodrug of paclitaxel

Paclitaxel is an effective and widely used anti-cancer agent. However, the drug is difficult to formulate for parenteral administration because of its low water solubility and Cremophor EL, the expient used for its formulation, has been shown to cause serious side effects. The present study reports an alternative administration vehicle involving a lipophilic paclitaxel prodrug, paclitaxel oleate, incorporated in the core of a nanoparticle-based dosage form. A hydrophobic poly (β-amino ester) (PbAE) was used to formulate the nanoparticles, which were stabilized with a mixture of phosphatidylcholine, Synperonic® F 108, and poly(ethylene glycol)-dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl ethanolamine. PbAE undergoes rapid dissolution when the pH of the medium is less than 6.5 and is expected to rapidly release its content within the acidic tumor microenvironment and endo/lysosome compartments of cancer cells. PbAE nanoparticles were prepared by an ultrasonication method and characterized for particle size and physical stability. The nanoparticles obtained had a diameter of about 70 nm and a good physical stability when stored at 4 °C. In vitro cellular uptake and release of paclitaxel oleate PbAE nanoparticles were studied in Jurkat acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells. The results were compared with pclitaxel oleate in poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) particles, that do not display pH-sensitive release behavior, and paclitaxel in PbAE particles. Both uptake and release of the prodrug were faster when administered in PbAE than in PCL, but much slower than those of the free drug in PbAE. Cytotoxicity assay was performed on the formulations at different doses. Paclitaxel and paclitaxel oleate showed almost identical activity, IC50 123 and 128 nM, respectively, while that of the prodrug in PCL was much lower with IC50 at 2.5 μM. Thus, PbAE nanoparticles with the incorporated paclitaxel prodrug paclitaxel oleate may prove useful for replacement of the toxic Cremophor EL and also by improving the distribution of the drug to the tumor.