Development of Docetaxel-Loaded Vitamin E TPGS Micelles: Formulation Optimization, Effects on Brain Cancer Cells and Biodistribution in Rats

Abstract

The particle size of the docetaxel-loaded TPGS micelles ranged between 12 and 14 nm. Docetaxel formulated in the TPGS micelles of high, moderate and low drug-loading levels achieved lower IC(50) values compared with Taxotere after 24-h incubation with C6 glioma brain cancer cells. The TPGS has much lower critical micelle concentration than most phospholipids in micellar formulation, which can be an efficient drug carrier across the blood brain-barrier with high drug encapsulation efficiency, cell uptake, cytotoxicity and desired biodistribution of the formulated drug.