Decrease in the Particle Size of Paclitaxel by Increased Surface Area Fractional Precipitation

Abstract

In this study, we have for the first time applied increased surface area fractional precipitation in order to decrease the particle size of the anticancer agent paclitaxel from plant cell cultures. When compared with the case where no surface area increasing material was employed, the addition of ion exchange resin as a surface area increasing material resulted in a considerable decrease in the size of the paclitaxel precipitate. When ion exchange resin was used, the paclitaxel particles were four to five times smaller, having less than a 20 radius, than those obtained in the absence of ion exchange resin. This is presumably because the growth of paclitaxel particles was impeded by the addition of ion exchange resin. The size of the paclitaxel precipitate also depended on the material used to increase the surface area, a result considered to be due to differences in the affinity between the particular ion exchange resin used and the paclitaxel particles. The yield of paclitaxel was significantly improved when ion exchange resin was used as a material to increase surface area. Paclitaxel, with a reduced particle size due to the addition of a surface area increasing material during the fractional precipitation process, is believed to be particularly useful for practical applications of the drug.