Advances in paclitaxel nanoformulations: A systematic review of in vivo therapeutic efficacy and safety enhancements

Abstract

Paclitaxel (PTX) is a broad-spectrum anticancer compound which nowadays used as the most common chemotherapeutic agent against many forms of cancer. The application of this compound is difficult because of its limited solubility, recrystallisation upon dilution, and cosolvent-induced toxicity. As a way to overcome these hindrances, nanotechnology could offer solutions by enabling specific and selective delivery of the drug to target sites while also increasing the drug half-life and lowering its toxicity. Nanoparticles (NPs) are capable of enhancing antitumour effects while demonstrating minimal toxicity in normal tissues, as well as building up in the tissue, potentially linked to enhanced permeability and retention. A trend analysis of literature on the latest advancements in nanomaterials developed for PTX delivery was conducted through a bibliometric approach. This review focused on the enhancement of PTX anticancer therapeutic effects and reduction of its toxicity by the nanoformulations (NFs). A total of 2712 papers published between 2018 and 2023 were screened on the development of nanomaterials for PTX delivery. The data were gathered from the ScienceDirect, Scopus, and PubMed databases. Sixty-six in vivo studies have been included in the qualitative synthesis assessment. Most of the studies revealed superior therapeutic efficiency of the PTX NFs compared to the free PTX treatment, as presented in the reported animal studies using rodent cancer models. These outcomes were generally accomplished through static and dynamic targeting to specific tumour environment. This review also highlights the therapeutic importance of PTX nanomaterials across different types of cancer rodent models, including data on their toxicity and safety. PTX NFs could serve as a safer and efficient alternative for conventional PTX cancer treatment by improving the drug's delivery and safety, thus providing new avenues for PTX-based cancer treatment and management.