Localized paclitaxel delivery using a novel hyaluronic acid-coated fibrous carrier produced via needle-less electrospinning

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most challenging malignancies to treat due to its dense stromal microenvironment and resistance to conventional therapies. This study introduces a novel localized drug delivery system design to target residual cancer cells following surgery. Electrospun fibrous carriers were fabricated using needle-less electrospinning from polycaprolactone (PCL), silk fibroin (SF), and their blend. Among these, PCL carriers (average fiber diameter: 141 ± 28 nm) exhibited the highest and most sustained paclitaxel (PTX) release in vitro. Coating the PCL carrier with hyaluronic acid (HA) increased the fiber diameter to 535 ± 116 nm and modulated PTX release, shifting from an initial rapid release phase in uncoated carrier to a more gradual and sustained release over 120 hours. PTX-loaded HA-coated electrospun PCL carriers significantly reduced MiaPaCa cell viability, with only 13% viability at 96 hours compared to 22% for the non-coated carrier. This HA-coated electrospun PCL carrier offers a scalable and efficient solution for localized PTX delivery, providing sustained drug release, prolonged cytotoxic efficacy, and reduced off-target effects. Its industrial scaleability, combined with its potential for post-surgical pancreatic cancer management, presents an innovative approach to minimizing reliance on systemic chemotherapy and its associated toxicities. The use of needle-less Nanospider TM electrospinning technology further emphasizes its clinical potential, with future in vivo studies needed to confirm carrier’s safety, pharmacokinetics, and therapeutic benefits.