Design, synthesis and applications of hyaluronic acid-paclitaxel bioconjugates

Molecules. 2008 Feb 12;13(2):360-78. doi: 10.3390/molecules13020360.

Abstract

Paclitaxel (1a), a well known antitumor agent adopted mainly for the treatment of breast and ovarian cancer, suffers from significant disadvantages such as low solubility, certain toxicity and specific drug-resistance of some tumor cells. To overcome these problems extensive research has been carried out. Among the various proposed strategies, the conjugation of paclitaxel (1a) to a biocompatible polymer, such as hyaluronic acid (HA, 2), has also been considered. Coupling a bioactive compound to a biocompatible polymer offers, in general, many advantages such as better drug solubilization, better stabilization, specific localization and controlled release. Hereafter the design, synthesis and applications of hyaluronic acid-paclitaxel bioconjugates are reviewed. An overview of HA-paclitaxel combinations is also given.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / chemical synthesis*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols
  • Drug Design*
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Humans
  • Hyaluronic Acid / chemical synthesis*
  • Hyaluronic Acid / chemistry
  • Paclitaxel / chemical synthesis*
  • Paclitaxel / chemistry

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Hyaluronic Acid
  • Paclitaxel