pH-Sensitive Paclitaxel Prodrug Incorporating Zanthoxylum bungeanum Extract for Targeted Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Therapy

In this study, we developed a lung cancer-activated prodrug nanoplatform, which combines paclitaxel (PTX), the fluorescent molecule BODIPY-OH, and compound, a natural extract from Zanthoxylum bungeanum. PTX and BODIPY were covalently linked to form PTX-NH-BDP, which self-assembled with Pluronic F-127 into water-dispersible nanoparticles. The compound was then loaded to enhance therapeutic efficacy. The system enables real-time fluorescence imaging for precise intracellular drug tracking and controlled release. In vitro studies showed that the nanoparticles significantly inhibit NSCLC cell proliferation, migration, and bcl-2 expression. This platform improves paclitaxel’s solubility and release profile, offering a promising strategy for enhanced NSCLC therapy.