Two kinds of paclitaxel(PTX) conjugate micelles,of which one contained 25%(mass fraction) PTX [M(PTX)] and the other contained 22.5%(mass fraction) of PTX and 1.4%(mass fraction) of folate(FA)[FA-M(PTX)],were prepared for cell apoptosis and anti-tumor activity evaluation on U14 cervical cancer mouse models in comparison with 0.9%(mass fraction) saline(control) and equivalent Taxol.Seven days after tail intravenous injection of the drugs,the mice were sacrificed to measure the tumor masses.The average tumor masses were 4.26,2.89,2.63,and 2.17 g for the control,Taxol,M(PTX) and FA-M(PTX) groups,respectively.The inhibition rates of tumor growth calculated for the three drug groups were 32%,38% and 49%,respectively.Flow cytometry(FC) analysis and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase(TdT)-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate(dUTP) nick end labeling(TUNEL) assay were conducted on the cancer tissues.The cell apoptosis rates based on the FC data and the TUNEL data were 20%,31%,37%,42%,and 10%,22%,26%,34%,respectively,both showing statistically significant differences(P<0.05) between three drug groups and the control group,and between the FA-M(PTX) group and the other two drug groups.In conclusion,the composite FA-M(PTX) micelles can be used for U14 cervical cancer treatment.
