Dual-targeted biodegradable micelles for anticancer drug delivery

[Display omitted] •Dual-targeting may enhance efficiency of drug delivery system.•PLA-PEG micelles functionalized with folic acid and biotin have been developed.•the micelles show low cmc, high loading of paclitaxel and prolonged release.•cytotoxicity of paclitaxel-loaded micelles was confirmed on OVCAR3 cells. Polymeric micelles have been widely studied and developed for targeted delivery of cytostatic drugs. However, due to heterogeneity of tumor cells, targeting efficiency may be enhanced by using different types of targeting agents on the same drug delivery system. The aim of the study was to obtain and characterize paclitaxel-loaded biodegradable poly(l-lactide)-co-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLA-PEG) micelles functionalized with folic acid and biotin. The developed dual targeted micelles show low critical micelle concentration, high loading capacity of paclitaxel and prolonged in vitro drug release. The cytotoxicity of paclitaxel-loaded micelles was confirmed against folate- and biotin-receptor positive OVCAR3 cells, which indicates their usefulness for targeted delivery of cytostatic drug.