Innovative Nanocarrier Strategies for Enhanced Docetaxel Delivery in Cancer Therapy

Docetaxel (DTX) and several other taxanes are one of the most important class of anticancer chemotherapeutic agent. DTX commercially marketed as Taxotere® has higher clinical significance amongst other taxanes owing it a wide range of clinical applications. Although its broad range of applications and wide commercial use, its clinical use limited due to associated undesired side toxicity. Recent developments in nanotechnology has emerged with novel ways to overcome the limitations of DTX. Numerous nanocarrier system offer enhanced efficacy of DTX by utilizing EPR effect, tumor vascular hyperpermeability, reduced lymphatic drainage and raised interstitial fluid pressure in tumor cells. Furthermore, these systems can be actively transported via targeting over expressed receptors in tumor cells or via targeting tumor endothelium. This review covers a range nanocarrier based formulations of DTX used for in-vitro and in-vivo evaluation for several types of cancer. Although nanoformulations such as polymeric nanoparticles, lipidic nanoparticles or inorganic nanoparticles significantly enhance the solubility, efficacy and bio-distribution of DTX, important obstacles of nanoformulations such as quality control, stability (physico-chemical and physiological), industrial-scale manufacturing and technology, in-vivo fate (metabolism, excretion, and chronic toxicity) still remain a concern. Numerous supporting data and regulatory guidelines should be established regarding these concerns to make DTX nanoformulations applicable widespread clinically. Keywords: Docetaxel; Nanocarriers; EPR effect; Cancer therapeutics; Cancer drug resistance.