Abstract
Paclitaxel(PTX) is a highly effective drug for breast cancer treatment. However, its pharmacological activity and poor water solubility often lead to severe adverse reactions and allergic responses, causing significant discomfort for patients. In this study, a three-dimensional (3D) --printed anti-tumor scaffold made of polylactic acid (PLA) doped with PTX was developed and evaluated for its ability to inhibit tumor growth. In vitro experiments were conducted to investigate the release rate of PTX from the scaffold. Co-culturing the scaffold with mouse breast cancer cells (4T1) allowed for the assessment of its cytotoxicity and anti-tumor efficacy. In vivo studies involved implanting the scaffolds into an animal model generated by 4T1 cells, and various parameters including body weight, tumor volume, organ coefficient, tissue anatomy, and histological analysis were used to evaluate the toxicity of the drug and its impact on inhibiting tumor growth. The 3D-printed circular scaffold demonstrated a sustained drug release over 21 days. The primary matrix material, PLA, exhibited no cytotoxicity, and the PTX/PLA scaffold effectively suppressed the multiplication of 4T1 cells in vitro. Animal experiments showed that high concentrations of the PTX/PLA scaffold successfully minimized systemic toxicity associated with PTX treatment while exhibiting a more pronounced inhibitory effect on tumor growth compared to PTX injection. These findings highlight the potential of using 3D-printed porous scaffolds made of paclitaxel-doped PLA as a drug delivery system for cancer therapy. Such scaffolds offer improved efficacy and reduced systemic toxicity, providing a promising approach for effective and local cancer treatment.