Poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) as sustained drug delivery vehicle for melanoma therapy

The suitability of poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) as sustained drug delivery vehicle for melanoma treatment has been revealed through paclitaxel (PTX) encapsulated PLGA nanoparticles (NPs) and PLGA film. The efficacy of PLGA-PTX formulations in different forms has been compared using both in vitro and in vivo melanoma model. Drug release from both the delivery systems has been compared using in vitro drug release assay and eventual chemotherapeutic effects indicate greater impact of NPs as compared to film due to higher surface area and better encapsulation efficiency. In vitro application of PLGA-PTX NPs and film led to significantly reduced melanoma cell proliferation. These results are successfully extrapolated in mice melanoma model causing considerable reduction in melanoma tumor volume and expression of melanoma inhibitory activity protein as compared to pure drug and control group. The greatest advantage of the sustained drug delivery systems is visualized in the form of least damage to vital organs such as liver, kidney and spleen as confirmed through histopathological examination. Liver and kidney function tests using blood serum also indicate least side effects in the groups treated with PTX encapsulated PLGA film and NPs as compared to pure PTX. The present study demonstrates the significance of PLGA as sustained drug delivery vehicle and its application in melanoma tumor treatment.