title: Formulation and characterization of Paclitaxel, 5-FU and Paclitaxel + 5-FU microspheres.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to compare the combination (Paclitaxel + 5-FU microspheres) with a single drug chemotherapy (Paclitaxel and 5-FU microspheres) against metastatic breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB 435 S). The physicochemical characteristics of the microspheres (i.e. encapsulation efficiency, particle size distribution, in vitro release, thermal characteristics) were studied. The results demonstrated that the encapsulation efficiency of Paclitaxel was high (90%) when the drug was encapsulated in poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles with or without 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). However, the encapsulation efficiency of 5-FU was low (19%) and increased to 30% when the drug was encapsulated with Paclitaxel. The mean particle size of microspheres was 2.5microm and were spherical in shape. The in vitro release of both 5-FU and Paclitaxel from the microspheres was relatively fast initially followed by a slower and more controlled release. The cytotoxic activity of Paclitaxel microspheres was far greater compared to either the microspheres containing 5-FU + Paclitaxel or 5-FU alone. Overall results demonstrated that incorporation of Paclitaxel or 5-FU in microspheres enhances the cytotoxicity in more controlled manner compared to that of free drugs and also that careful consideration should be made when combining drugs acting in different phases of cell cycle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Temple University, 3307 North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19140, USA. anshul@temple.edu
authors.forename: Anshul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gupte
authors.forename: Kadriye
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ciftci
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid; D008863:Microspheres; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010316:Particle Size; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011108:Polymers; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D011108:Polymers; D000077182:Polylactic Acid-Polyglycolic Acid Copolymer; D011100:Polyglycolic Acid; D019344:Lactic Acid; D017239:Paclitaxel; D005472:Fluorouracil