Targeted Delivery of Paclitaxel Using Folic Acid-Conjugated Nanoliposomes for Enhanced Breast Cancer Therapy

Mohsen Mir; Donya Farzane Yegane; Shabnam Farhadi; Nigmatova Gulnara; Ruzibakieva Malika; Karamatullayeva Zebo; Turdumatov Jamshed; Ulmasov Alijon; Gulnoza Latifjonova; Tuksanova Dilbar; Abdukarimov Uchkun; Rakhimov Okiljon; Talipov Orifjon; Ismatova Malika

doi:10.31557/APJCB.2026.11.2.559-568

Authors

Mohsen Mir Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Donya Farzane Yegane Nutritional Health Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran.
Shabnam Farhadi Islamic Azad University of Damghan, College of Pharmacy, Semnan, Iran.
Nigmatova Gulnara PhD, Associate Professor of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology, Tashkent State Medical University, Tashkent, Republic of Uzbekistan.
Ruzibakieva Malika MD, PhD, DSc Head of the Laboratory of Genomic and Cell Technologies at the Institute of Immunology and Human Genomics, Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Karamatullayeva Zebo Assistant Teacher, Department of Infectious Diseases, Samarkand State Medical Universitety, Samarkand, Republic of Uzbekistan.
Turdumatov Jamshed PhD, Department of Radiation Diagnostics and Therapy, Samarkand State Medical University, Samarkand, Republic of Uzbekistan.
Ulmasov Alijon Assistant of the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Andijan State Medical Institute, Andijan city, Republic of Uzbekistan.
Gulnoza Latifjonova Department of Urology and oncology, Fergana Medical Institute of Public Health, Fergana, Republic of Uzbekistan.
Tuksanova Dilbar Department of the Obstetrics and Gynecology in Family Medicine, Bukhara State Medical Institute, Bukhara, Uzbekistan.
Abdukarimov Uchkun Bukhara State Medical Institute, Bukhara, Uzbekistan.
Rakhimov Okiljon Department of Oncology, Oncohematology and Radiation Oncology, Tashkent State Medical University, Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Talipov Orifjon Department of Oncology, Oncohematology and Radiation Oncology, Tashkent State Medical University, Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Ismatova Malika Bukhara State Medical Institute, Bukhara, Uzbekistan.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31557/APJCB.2026.11.2.559-568

Keywords:

Keywords: Nanoliposome, Folic acid, Targeted drug delivery, Breast cancer, Apoptosis, Paclitaxel

Abstract

Background: Targeted drug delivery systems have gained increasing attention as an effective approach to improve therapeutic efficacy while reducing systemic toxicity in cancer treatment. In this study, folic acid-conjugated nanoliposomes [FA-NLs] were engineered as an active tumor-targeting nanocarrier for the selective delivery of paclitaxel to folate receptor–overexpressing breast cancer cells.

Materials and Methods: FA-NLs were prepared using the thin-film hydration technique and loaded with paclitaxel. The nanocarriers were comprehensively characterized by SEM, TEM, and DLS to evaluate morphology, particle size, and zeta potential. Encapsulation efficiency and in vitro drug release were assessed under physiological and acidic conditions. Cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, and apoptosis were analyzed using the MTT assay, fluorescence microscopy, and Annexin V/PI flow cytometry, respectively.

Results: The optimized FA-NLs exhibited uniform spherical morphology, nanoscale size (< 210 nm), and favorable surface charge, ensuring colloidal stability. The formulation achieved high drugloading capacity and sustained, pH-responsive release behavior. Compared with free paclitaxel and non-targeted liposomes, FA-NLs significantly enhanced intracellular accumulation and cytotoxic efficacy in MCF-7 cells. Flow cytometric analysis further demonstrated markedly elevated apoptosis induction, confirming improved therapeutic performance.

Conclusion: Collectively, FA-conjugated nanoliposomes enabled receptor-mediated targeting, efficient cellular internalization, and controlled intracellular drug release, resulting in superior anticancer activity. These findings underscore the potential of FA-NLs as a promising precision nanomedicine platform for targeted breast cancer therapy.