Aim: Tumor metastasis is one of the leading causes of insufficient chemotherapy during cancer treatment. In this study, a poly(β-amino ester) derivate was developed to fabricate paclitaxel (PTX) entrapped pH-responsive copolymer micelles for inhibition of breast cancer metastasis.
Materials & methods: PTX-loaded micelles were fabricated by thin film hydration method. The inhibition efficacy of the as-prepared micelles was evaluated on MDA-MB-231 cells and tumor bearing mice.
Results: PTX-loaded micelles were successfully prepared. Such micelles could promote drug uptake and MDA-MB-231 cell deaths, and suppress tumor metastasis.
Conclusion: The pH-responsive PTX-loaded micelles are promising candidates in developing stimuli triggered drug delivery systems in acidic tumor microenvironments with improved inhibitory effects on tumor metastasis.
Keywords: anticancer; invasion; metastasis; migration; paclitaxel; poly(β-amino ester).