Docetaxel (DTX) is an antineoplastic agent of the second generation of the taxoid family. It is a semi-synthetic drug prepared from a precursor extracted of the plant Taxus baccata. The commercial formulation of DTX, Taxotere®, employs the surfactant polysorbate 80, due to the low water solubility of the drug, causing several side effects. Therefore, there is a need to develop delivery systems to reduce the side effects of DTX. In addition, this drug has been qualitative and quantitatively analyzed in pharmaceutical formulations and biological samples. Thus, several techniques and analytical methods have been reported with the aim of optimizing the analytical signal, increasing sensitivity, selectivity and reducing the effects of interference. Herein, we highlight immunoassay, capillary electrophoresis and chromatographic methods. This review presents a summary of physicochemical and pharmacokinetics properties, mechanisms of action, drug delivery systems and analytical methods used in quantification of DTX in diverse matrices such as blood, plasma, oral fluid, urine, carcinoma cells, pharmaceutical formulations and delivery systems.
Stimuli-responsive drug-delivery nanocarriers (DDNs) have been increasingly reported
in the literature as an alternative for breast cancer therapy. Stimuli-responsive DDNs
are developed with materials that present a drastic change in response to intrinsic/chemical
stimuli (pH, redox and enzyme) and extrinsic/physical stimuli (ultrasound, Near-infrared
(NIR) light, magnetic field and electric current). In addition, they can be developed using different
strategies, such as functionalization with signaling molecules, leading to several advantages,
such as (a) improved pharmaceutical properties of liposoluble drugs, (b) selectivity
with the tumor tissue decreasing systemic toxic effects, (c) controlled release upon different
stimuli, which are all fundamental to improving the therapeutic effectiveness of breast cancer
treatment. Therefore, this review summarizes the use of stimuli-responsive DDNs in the treatment
of breast cancer. We have divided the discussions into intrinsic and extrinsic stimuli and
have separately detailed them regarding their definitions and applications. Finally, we aim to
address the ability of these stimuli-responsive DDNs to control the drug release in vitro and
the influence on breast cancer therapy, evaluated in vivo in breast cancer models.
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