Cyclodextrin/Paclitaxel Complex in Biodegradable Capsules for Breast Cancer Treatment

A novel type of biocompatible hollow capsules that combine severable favorable features as a hydrophobic drug carrier, including host–guest complexation in the shell, the unique biological functions of hyaluronic acid (HA), and transport properties of the multilayer shell, was designed and prepared. These capsules were generated by layer-by-layer (LbL) deposition of HA modified with β-cyclodextrin (CD) molecules and poly(l-lysine) (PLL) on calcium carbonate particles. Simultaneously, paclitaxel (PTX) was loaded in the LbL wall via host–guest interaction. Under physiological conditions, the incorporated anticancer drug was slowly released, and the capsules remained stable. Because the PTX molecules are selectively complexed by CD in the shell, their release can be triggered by the addition of competitive cyclodextrin molecules in the external medium. By incubating the capsules with breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231), it was found that the cells bound specifically to the capsules through the CD44 receptor of HA that is overexpressed on their surface. Finally, when breast cancer cells were incubated with the PTX-loaded capsules, their viability was found to strongly decrease. All together, these results highlight the potential for these HA–cyclodextrin-containing capsules in anticancer therapy.