Evaluation and antitumor mechanism of functionalized chitosan-based polymeric micelles for oral delivery of paclitaxel

•The chitosan-based polymeric micelles were constructed for oral drug delivery.•The micelles displayed a high drug loading capacity and P-gp inhibition function.•Zebrafish models were used to reveal the antitumor efficacy and mechanism of the micelles.•The chitosan-based conjugate can inhibit P-gp activity and P-gp and MDR1 expression.