Targeted Nanoparticles Delivering Cancer Treatment

Can Nanoparticles Revolutionize Cancer Treatment? Folate-Modified Curcumin & Paclitaxel Co-Delivery

Elliot Brynn in Health & Wellness November 2025 • 4 min read.

"Explore how targeted nanoparticles loaded with curcumin and paclitaxel offer a promising approach to enhance chemotherapy and combat drug resistance."

Cancer remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide, with conventional treatments often causing significant harm to healthy tissues alongside tumor cells. Traditional chemotherapy faces a major obstacle: cancer cells developing resistance to the drugs designed to destroy them. This resistance dramatically reduces the effectiveness of treatments and contributes to many treatment failures.

To overcome these challenges, researchers are exploring innovative strategies such as combination chemotherapy and advanced drug delivery systems. Combination chemotherapy involves administering two or more anticancer drugs simultaneously, aiming to attack cancer cells through different mechanisms and reduce the likelihood of resistance. Drug delivery systems, particularly those at the nanoscale, promise to improve the precision, efficacy, and safety of cancer treatments.

This article delves into a groundbreaking study focused on folate-modified nanoparticles designed to co-deliver curcumin and paclitaxel—two potent anticancer agents—directly to cancer cells. These nanoparticles are constructed from biocompatible materials and engineered for targeted drug release, offering a potential leap forward in cancer therapy.

What Are Folate-Modified PLA-TPGS Nanoparticles and How Do They Work?

Targeted Nanoparticles Delivering Cancer Treatment

The innovative approach involves creating nanoparticles from a blend of polylactic acid (PLA) and tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS). PLA is a biodegradable polymer widely used in medical applications, while TPGS enhances drug absorption and has shown anticancer properties itself. The scientists modified these nanoparticles with folic acid, a vitamin that acts as a targeting agent. Cancer cells often have a high number of folate receptors on their surfaces, allowing the nanoparticles to selectively bind to and enter these cells.

These nanoparticles are designed to encapsulate and deliver two key drugs:

Curcumin (Cur): A natural compound found in turmeric, known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. Curcumin can interfere with multiple signaling pathways involved in cancer growth and spread.
Paclitaxel (PTX): A powerful chemotherapy drug that disrupts cell division by interfering with microtubules, essential components of the cell's structural framework.

By combining curcumin and paclitaxel within a single nanoparticle, researchers aim to achieve a synergistic effect, where the combined impact of the drugs is greater than the sum of their individual effects. This approach could potentially overcome drug resistance and improve treatment outcomes.

The Future of Nanoparticle-Based Cancer Therapies

The development of folate-modified, curcumin, and paclitaxel co-loaded PLA-TPGS nanoparticles represents a significant step forward in targeted cancer therapy. By selectively delivering potent anticancer agents directly to cancer cells, this approach holds the promise of improving treatment efficacy, reducing side effects, and overcoming drug resistance. While further research and clinical trials are necessary, these innovative nanoparticles offer a beacon of hope for more effective and less harmful cancer treatments in the future.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1088/2043-6254/aabb5c, Alternate LINK

Title: Folate-Modified, Curcumin And Paclitaxel Co-Loaded Pla-Tpgs Nanoparticles: Preparation, Optimization And In Vitro Cytotoxicity Assays

Subject: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Journal: Advances in Natural Sciences: Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

Publisher: IOP Publishing

Authors: Hai Doan Do, Hao Le Thi, Thu Huong Le Thi, Hoai Nam Nguyen, Van Khanh Bui, My Nhung Hoang Thi, Phuong Thu Ha

Published: 2018-04-20

Everything You Need To Know

What is the role of Folate in Folate-Modified PLA-TPGS Nanoparticles for cancer treatment?

Folate acts as a targeting agent in Folate-Modified PLA-TPGS Nanoparticles. Cancer cells frequently overexpress folate receptors on their surfaces. This allows the nanoparticles, modified with folate, to selectively bind to and enter the cancer cells, facilitating targeted drug delivery of curcumin and paclitaxel directly to the tumor site, potentially improving treatment efficacy and reducing side effects. This targeted approach is crucial for minimizing harm to healthy tissues.

How do Curcumin and Paclitaxel work together when delivered by nanoparticles?

Curcumin and Paclitaxel are co-delivered by the Folate-Modified PLA-TPGS Nanoparticles to achieve a synergistic effect. Curcumin, a natural compound, interferes with cancer cell growth and spread through multiple signaling pathways. Paclitaxel, a chemotherapy drug, disrupts cell division. The combination aims for a greater impact than either drug alone, potentially overcoming drug resistance and improving treatment outcomes. The nanoparticles ensure both drugs reach the cancer cells simultaneously and in the correct proportions.

What are the advantages of using Nanoparticles made from PLA and TPGS in cancer treatment?

PLA (polylactic acid) and TPGS (tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate) offer several advantages when used in Folate-Modified nanoparticles for cancer treatment. PLA is a biodegradable polymer used in medical applications, ensuring the nanoparticles break down safely. TPGS enhances drug absorption and possesses anticancer properties, which complements the therapeutic action of curcumin and paclitaxel. The biocompatibility of these materials is essential for minimizing adverse effects. The TPGS also helps in better drug absorption by cancer cells.

Why is combination chemotherapy and advanced drug delivery systems like nanoparticles needed to combat cancer?

Combination chemotherapy, involving multiple anticancer drugs simultaneously, is necessary to attack cancer cells through different mechanisms and reduce the likelihood of drug resistance. Advanced drug delivery systems, especially those at the nanoscale like Folate-Modified PLA-TPGS Nanoparticles, are designed to improve the precision, efficacy, and safety of cancer treatments. Traditional chemotherapy often struggles with drug resistance and can harm healthy tissues. Nanoparticles offer a targeted approach, delivering the drugs directly to the cancer cells, thus enhancing the therapeutic effect while minimizing side effects.

What are the potential implications of using Folate-Modified PLA-TPGS Nanoparticles loaded with Curcumin and Paclitaxel in cancer therapy?

The implications of using Folate-Modified PLA-TPGS Nanoparticles loaded with Curcumin and Paclitaxel are promising. This approach aims to improve treatment efficacy by targeting the delivery of curcumin and paclitaxel directly to cancer cells, potentially enhancing their combined therapeutic effect. Furthermore, it seeks to reduce side effects by minimizing the exposure of healthy tissues to the drugs. By combining curcumin and paclitaxel, the strategy aims to overcome drug resistance. While further research is needed, this innovation offers a potential future of more effective and less harmful cancer treatments.