In Silico Investigation on the Molecular Behavior and Structural Stability of the Rosette Nanotubes as the Drug Vehicles for Paclitaxel, an Anti-Cancer Drug

Abstract

Most anticancer drugs affect healthy cells in addition to cancer cells, causing severe side effects. Targeted delivery by nano-based drug delivery systems (NDDS) can reduce these severe side effects while maintaining therapeutic efficacy. This work introduced rosette nanotube (RNT) as a potential drug vehicle for paclitaxel (PTX) due to its self-assembling property, biocompatibility, amphiphilicity, and low toxicity. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations aided with molecular mechanics Poisson Boltzmann surface area (MMPBSA) analysis are used here to investigate the molecular behavior and the loading energetics of each type of RNT (K1, xK1, and iEt-xK1) with PTX. Analysis showed that the most probable configuration of PTX is on either end of each RNT. The binding free energies (−117.74 to −69.29 kJ/mol) when PTX is closer to one end were stronger than when it is in the inner channel (−53.51 to −40.88 kJ/mol). The latter alludes to the encapsulation of the PTX by each RNT. Thus, loading is possible by encapsulation during the self-assembly process given the favorable estimated binding free energies. Based on the results, RNT has potential as a drug vehicle for PTX, which warrants further investigation.