Fabrication of paclitaxel hybrid nanomicelles to treat resistant breast cancer via oral administration

Aim Oral chemotherapy using anticancer drugs would improve the clinical practice and the life quality of patients. The aim of the present study was to develop paclitaxel hybrid nanomicelles for oral administration to treat resistant breast cancer. Methods Evaluations were performed on human breast cancer MCF-7 cells, drug-resistant breast cancer MCF-7/Adr cells, and in MCF-7/Adr-xenografted BALB/c nude mice. The nanomicelles were composed of the polymer soluplus, d-α-tocopheryl polyethyleneglycol 1000 succinate (TPGS1000), and dequalinium (DQA). The constructed paclitaxel hybrid nanomicelles were ~65 nm in size. Results The nanomicelles improved cellular uptake and anticancer efficacy in the resistant breast cancer cells and induced mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. The mechanism of the apoptosis-inducing effect was related to the co-localization of the nanomicelles with mitochondria; the activation of pro-apoptotic protein Bax, cytochrome C, and apoptotic enzymes caspase 9 and 3; and the inhibition of anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Mcl-1. Oral administration of paclitaxel hybrid nanomicelles had the same anticancer efficacy as the intravenous injection of taxol in resistant breast cancer-bearing mice. The oral suitability of this formulation was associated with the nanostructure and the actions of TPGS1000 and DQA. Conclusion The fabricated paclitaxel hybrid nanomicelles could provide a promising oral formulation to treat drug-resistant breast cancer.