Biodistribution and In Vivo Anticancer Effects of Taxol Loaded Magnetic Nanospheres

Taxol (anticancer drug) loaded magnetic nanospheres were prepared and tested in vitro and in vivo in mice. Poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) as polymer matrix for the encapsulation of the drug and magnetic (Fe₃O₄) particles was used. Pluronic F68 served as a stabilising agent of the polymeric nanospheres. The cytotoxicity of taxol loaded magnetic NPs suspensions towards B16 melanoma cells was investigated. Growth inhibitions of around 90% were reached in three days of exposition. Biodistribution of taxol administered in Cremophor-based injection formula as well as taxol loaded nanosphere compositions was determined in the plasma, selected organs and target tissue. The drug-loaded magnetically labeled nanospheres caused a reduction in tumor weight. A better result was achieved using the composition with higher magnetite/drug weight ratio than in the sample with the smaller ratio which is due to fact that the samples with higher magnetite content were trapped more effectively in target site (tumor) by the external field.