Formulation and Characterization of Paclitaxel-Loaded Nanoparticles For Targeted Cancer Therapy

Abstract

Paclitaxel (PTX) is a potent anticancer drug used in the treatment of various cancers, the present study focuses on the formulation and characterization of PTX-loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles for sustained and potentially targeted cancer therapy. PTX-loaded PLGA nanoparticles were developed using a nano-precipitation/emulsion-solvent evaporation approach and evaluated for particle size, PDI, zeta potential, encapsulation efficiency, drug loading, morphology, drug-polymer compatibility, thermal behavior, drug release, cellular uptake, cytotoxicity, and short-term stability. Among the illustrative formulations, F4 showed the most favorable characteristics, with a particle size of 129 ± 2 nm, PDI of 0.12, zeta potential of −20.1 mV, encapsulation efficiency of 95.1%, and drug loading of 9.4%. TEM/SEM observations indicated predominantly spherical and discrete nanoparticles with limited aggregation. FTIR showed retention of major PTX and PLGA characteristic bands, while DSC indicated a reduction or disappearance of the crystalline PTX melting endotherm, suggesting reduced crystallinity or molecular dispersion of PTX within the PLGA matrix. The in-vitro release study demonstrated sustained release of PTX from PLGA nanoparticles compared with free PTX, with approximately 89% drug release at 360 h. The Korsmeyer–Peppas model showed the highest illustrative correlation (R² = 0.941), followed by the Higuchi model (R² = 0.933), Cytotoxicity results demonstrated concentration-dependent reduction in cell viability, while the short-term stability study showed only modest changes in particle size, PDI, and encapsulation efficiency over 8 weeks.