Paclitaxel delivery by micro/nano encapsulation using layer-by-layer assembly

Recently an extensive effort has been made in the development of smart, functional, organized delivery system by layer-by-layer (LBL) self-assembling technique for micro/nano-encapsulation of bioactives, Caruso [2001]; Decher and Schlenoff [2003]. The encapsulation of bioactive materials into porous microparticles of inorganic origin have a great potential to allocate the drug in their nanopores (nanoreservoir) and have features to impart biological stability along with sustained release properties. We have made an attempt to develop a novel formulation of paclitaxel (PTX) by providing multilayer assembly over drug loaded porous CaCO3 microparticles (CaCO3 MP) by using combination of biocompatible and biodegradable polyelectrolytes (PE’ s). There has been a paradigm shift in the delivery of PTX and research being focused to eliminate intrinsic problem associated with drug itself and toxicity associated with excipients used in the existing formulation.