PEG-farnesyl thiosalicylic acid telodendrimer micelles as an improved formulation for targeted delivery of paclitaxel

Mol Pharm. 2014 Aug 4;11(8):2807-14. doi: 10.1021/mp500181x. Epub 2014 Jul 11.

Abstract

We have recently designed and developed a dual-functional drug carrier that is based on poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-derivatized farnesylthiosalicylate (FTS, a nontoxic Ras antagonist). PEG5K-FTS2 readily form micelles (20-30 nm) and hydrophobic drugs such as paclitaxel (PTX) could be effectively loaded into these micelles. PTX formulated in PEG5K-FTS2 micelles showed an antitumor activity that was more efficacious than Taxol in a syngeneic mouse model of breast cancer (4T1.2). In order to further improve our PEG-FTS micellar system, four PEG-FTS conjugates were developed that vary in the molecular weight of PEG (PEG2K vs PEG5K) and the molar ratio of PEG/FTS (1/2 vs 1/4) in the conjugates. These conjugates were characterized including CMC, drug loading capacity, stability, and their efficacy in delivery of anticancer drug PTX to tumor cells in vitro and in vivo. Our data showed that the conjugates with four FTS molecules were more effective than the conjugates with two molecules of FTS and that FTS conjugates with PEG5K were more effective than the counterparts with PEG2K in forming stable mixed micelles. PTX formulated in PEG5K-FTS4 micelles was the most effective formulation in inhibiting the tumor growth in vivo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Drug Carriers*
  • Farnesol / analogs & derivatives*
  • Farnesol / chemistry
  • Female
  • HCT116 Cells
  • Hemolysis
  • Humans
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • MCF-7 Cells
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / drug therapy
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Micelles
  • Paclitaxel / administration & dosage*
  • Polyethylene Glycols / chemistry*
  • Salicylates / chemistry*

Substances

  • Drug Carriers
  • Micelles
  • Salicylates
  • farnesylthiosalicylic acid
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Farnesol
  • Paclitaxel