Cytotoxicity Enhancement of Paclitaxel by Loading on Stearate-g-dextran Micelles on Breast Cancer Cell Line MCF-7

Objective: Paclitaxel (PTX) is a chemotherapeutic agent used for treating breast cancer. The study aimed to preparePTX loaded dextran stearate (Dex-SA) and evaluate its efficacy against human breast cancer cell line MCF-7. Methods:Dex-SA/PTX micelles were prepared by dialysis method. The micelles size, zeta potential and particle size distributionwere measured by dynamic laser light scattering method. Amount of loaded PTX on the polymer measured by HPLC.Release profiles of the drug from the micelles were obtained in buffer (phosphate pH=7.4). Then the cytotoxicity of blankmicelles, Dex-SA/PTX micelles and free PTX were evaluated in the MCF-7 cells by MTT method. Result: Loadingefficiency of PTX on the Dex-SA was measured about 84.24±9.07%. The smallest particles size was about 193.9±7.1nm but the other formulation with larger particle size had better zeta potential (-33.5±6.74 mV). The drug releasefrom the micelles was slowly and reached steady state after about 12 hours. The cytotoxicity experiment showed thatDex-SA/PTX micelles have more cytotoxicity compared to free PTX against MCF7 cell lines. Conclusions: Dex-SApolymeric micelle is a suitable carrier for hydrophobic cytotoxic drugs such as PTX.