Therapeutic efficacy of a paclitaxel-loaded nanofibrillated bacterial cellulose (PTX/NFBC) formulation in a peritoneally disseminated gastric cancer xenograft model

Nano-fibrillated bacterial cellulose (NFBC) is a safe, biocompatible material that can be prepared by culturing a cellulose-producing bacterium in a culture supplemented with carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) or hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC). CM-NFBC and HP-NFBC, prepared using CMC or HPC, show hydrophilicity and amphiphilicity, respectively, and thus they could be useful carriers for hydrophobic anticancer agents such as paclitaxel (PTX). In the present study, we prepared novel PTX formulations for intraperitoneal administration by associating PTX with either CM-NFBC or HP-NFBC and studied their therapeutic efficacy on peritoneally disseminated gastric cancer in a xenograft nude mouse model. Freeze-dried PTX formulations (PTX/CM-NFBC and PTX/HP-NFBC) were quickly reconstituted with saline without any foaming, compared to nanoparticle albumin-bound PTX (nab-PTX, Abraxane®). Both PTX/NFBC formulations extended the mean survival times in our xenograft murine models compared with either free PTX or nab-PTX. The PTX/NFBC formulations reduced systemic side effects of free PTX relating to weight loss. In our disseminated gastric peritoneal cancer model, the PTX/NFBC formulation increased the therapeutic index for PTX by increasing the therapeutic efficacy and decreasing toxicity. NFBCs should receive consideration as improved carriers for the clinical delivery of hydrophobic anticancer drugs such as PTX in malignancies in the abdominal cavity with peritoneal metastasis and dissemination.