PMC

In vitro and in vivo characterizations of PTX/PEG-PSA particles. (a) Scanning electron micrograph, (b) volume-weighted size distribution, and (c) in vitro release kinetics for PTX/PEG-PSA particles. (d) Intraperitoneal retention of PTX delivered by Taxol^® or PTX/PEG-PSA particles. Data represent mean ± S.E.M. (n = 3). * indicates statistical differences at all time points (p < 0.05)

In vivo efficacy of IP delivered PTX/PEG-PSA microspheres, Taxol^® or blank PEG-PSA microspheres in mice bearing IP MOSEC-luc tumors. (a) Bioluminescence signals from MOSEC-luc tumors. PTX/PEG-PSA particles better suppressed tumor growth than other treatments. ** indicates statistical difference between PTX/PEG-PSA and other groups starting from Day 19 (p < 0.01). (b) Kaplan-Meier survival curves. PTX/PEG-PSA particles significantly extended animal survival to > 75 days compared to blank PEG-PSA particles (34 days) and Taxol^® (47 days). * indicates statistical difference between PTX/PEG-PSA and other groups (p < 0.05). (c) Representative bioluminescence images of IP tumor burden. Data represent mean ± S.E.M. (n = 5 per treatment set)

Toxicity associated with IP Taxol^® and PTX/PEG-PSA particles. (a) Representative histological images of mesenteric inflammatory cells for each treatment and time point. PBS (A), Taxol (B, D, F) and PTX/PEG-PSA (C, E, G) treatment groups are shown at day 1 (A, B, C), day 10 (D, E) and day 30 (F, G) post treatment. Arrows indicate groups of inflammatory cells. Scale bars are 100 μm. (b) Pathology scores of representative hematoxylin and eosin-stained tissue sections of abdominal organs from mice receiving Taxol^® or PTX/PEG-PSA particles. Dashed line represents the baseline score of PBS-treated mice. (c) Total leukocyte count from peritoneal lavage samples. No significant differences were noted between groups (p > 0.05). (d) Relative proportion of different leukocytes in the peritoneal lavage samples from mice receiving Taxol^® or PTX/PEG-PSA particles. Data represent mean ± S.E.M. (n ≥ 4 per treatment set)