title: Antitumor efficacy, tumor distribution and blood pharmacokinetics of chitosan/glyceryl-monooleate nanostructures containing paclitaxel.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This investigation compared the tumor distribution, efficacy, blood pharmacokinetic parameters and hematological alterations following treatment with chitosan/glyceryl-monooleate (GMO) nanostructures containing paclitaxel (PTX) to a conventional formulation of PTX (Taxol(®)) in BALB/c female mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  The tumor and blood concentrations of PTX were evaluated by HPLC and the pharmacokinetic parameters were determined through noncompartmental methods. Tumor development was evaluated by histopathological methods and hematological composition was monitored through differential white blood cells counts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lower localized or intravenous doses of PTX-chitosan/GMO nanostructures significantly increased the antitumor activity of paclitaxel. The tumor distribution studies showed effective concentrations in the tumors with the chitosan/GMO formulation while systemic blood levels remained lower than after administration of the conventional formulation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Delivery systems consisting of chitosan/GMO and PTX are safe and effective administered locally (intratumorally) or intravenously.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Sciences, School of Pharmacy & Health Professions, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, NE 68178, USA.
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Trickler
authors.forename: Daniel J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Munt
authors.forename: Neha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: Shantaram S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Joshi
authors.forename: Alekha K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Dash
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D048271:Chitosan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005260:Female; D005989:Glycerides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D005989:Glycerides; D048271:Chitosan; C005953:monoolein; D017239:Paclitaxel