Review on Paclitaxel Derivatization: Enhanced Anticancer Action

Background: The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized paclitaxel for the treatment of numerous types of cancer, including breast, lung, ovarian, and Kaposi's sarcoma. It possesses all the characteristics of BCS class IV medications, including low bioavailability, low water solubility, poor permeability, unpredictable and poor absorption, and inter- and intrasubject variability. Objective: The purpose of this research was to evaluate previous efforts done to derivatize paclitaxel for greater effectiveness. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted from a variety of sources, including published research, review articles, and patents, that mainly focus on the derivatization of paclitaxel that has been done in the last 10 years to enhance its solubility, permeability, and bioavailability. Different forms of derivatization were done in order to improve the drug's ability to be absorbed by the body, as well as its solubility and bioavailability. Results: This article explores the current and future strategies for increasing the anti-cancer efficacy of paclitaxel by enhancing its bioavailability, solubility, and penetration efficacy. Some examples are lipidbased delivery systems, polymer-based nanocarriers, crystal engineering (nanocrystals and co-crystals), liquidsolid technologies, and self-emulsifying solid dispersions. Other strategies are also discussed in this article. Conclusion: It is quite likely that this review article will contain perfect fragments of evidence for building a new model for the application of paclitaxel in the treatment of cancer.