Paclitaxel-Copper Composite: A Metallodrug Model System Enroute Ultrasonic Force

Abstract

Paclitaxel (PTX), an anti-microtubule agent, widely used as an efficacious anti-neoplastic drug in the treatment of numerous cancer diseases. The major disadvantage of PTX drug is practical insolubility in aqueous media and poor bioavailability, which directly impacts drug absorption in human beings. In this research, we successively tried to increase the bioavailability of PTX, by synthesizing PTX-Copper nanocomposite (Cu NCP) using water bath type ultrasonication method. PTX-Cu NCP exhibited significantly higher solubility in different aqueous media as compared to plain PTX. The drug release profile of PTX-Cu NCP was also comparatively positive with respect to plain PTX. PTX-Cu NCP was well characterized by SEM, XRD, UV-Vis spectroscopy and zeta potential. Physico-chemical properties and biological behavior of BSA-PTX-Cu NCP were evaluated by emission spectroscopy, where the binding constant was found to be 4.76 × 10 2 . Negative values of enthalpy [∆H° = -49.52 KJmol -1 ] and entropy [∆S° = -113.14 Jmol -1 K -1 ] indicate hydrophilic interaction between BSA and PTX-Cu NCP. Circular Dichroism binding studies of PTX-Cu NCP suggests no major change in secondary structure of BSA protein. PTX-Cu NCP displays favorable antioxidant activity with respect to ascorbic acid and comparatively prominent anticancer activity on MCF-7 and COLO-205 cell lines against standard anticancer drug ADR (Adriamycin) (Graphical abstract).