Extemporaneous preparation of large unilamellar liposomes

Recent advances in superlubricity of liposomes for biomedical applications

Achieving superlubricity, a state of lubrication where friction nearly vanishes, has become one of the most promising approaches to combat friction-induced energy dissipation and medical device failure. Phospholipids are amphiphilic molecules comprising highly hydrophilic phosphatidylcholine head groups as well as hydrophobic hydrocarbon chains, When solubilized, phospholipids can readily self-assemble to form different structures such as bilayers and vesicles (liposomes). Recently, liposomes have been identified as excellent lubricants, especially in the boundary lubrication regime the most common lubrication status in the field of biotribology. In this review, we summarize recent progress in employing liposomes as key players for employing superlubricity in biomedical applications. The relationship between lipids and liposomes, manufacturing approaches, lubrication regimes, and regulation mechanisms of liposomes are discussed. Finally, we indicate possible future directions for the use of liposome-mediated superlubricity in biomedical applications.

Manufacturing drug co-loaded liposomal formulations targeting breast cancer: Influence of preparative method on liposomes characteristics and in vitro toxicity

Developing more efficient manufacturing methods for nano therapeutic systems is becoming important, not only to better control their physico-chemical characteristics and therapeutic efficacy but also to ensure scale-up is cost-effective. The principle of cross-flow chemistry allows precise control over manufacturing parameters for the fabrication of uniform liposomal formulations, as well as providing reproducible manufacturing scale-up compared to conventional methods. We have herein investigated the use of microfluidics to produce PEGylated DSPC liposomes loaded with doxorubicin and compared their performance against identical formulations prepared by the thin-film method. The isoprenylated coumarin umbelliprenin was selected as a co-therapeutic. Umbelliprenin-loaded and doxorubicin:umbelliprenin co-loaded liposomes were fabricated using the optimised microfluidic set-up. The role of umbelliprenin as lipid bilayer fluidity modulation was characterized, and we investigated its role on liposomes size, size distribution, shape and stability compared to doxorubicin-loaded liposomes. Finally, the toxicity of all liposomal formulations was tested on a panel of human breast cancer cells (MCF-7, MDA-MB 231, BT-474) to identify the most potent formulation by liposomal fabrication method and loaded compound(s). We herein show that the microfluidic system is an alternative method to produce doxorubicin:umbelliprenin co-loaded liposomes, allowing fine control over liposome size (100-250 nm), shape, uniformity and doxorubicin drug loading (>80%). Umbelliprenin was shown to confer fluidity to model lipid biomembranes, which helps to explain the more homogeneous size and shape of co-loaded liposomes compared to liposomes without umbelliprenin. The toxicity of doxorubicin:umbelliprenin co-loaded liposomes was lower than that of free doxorubicin, due to the delayed release of doxorubicin from liposomes. An alternative, rapid and easy manufacturing method for the production of liposomes has been established using microfluidics to effectively produce uniform doxorubicin:umbelliprenin co-loaded liposomal formulations with proven cytotoxicity in human breast cancer cell lines in vitro.

Lipid-based nanovesicles for nanomedicine

Multifunctional lipid-based nanovesicles (L-NVs) prepared by molecular self-assembly of membrane components together with (bio)-active molecules, by means of compressed CO₂-media or other non-conventional methods lead to highly homogeneous, tailor-made nanovesicles that are used for advanced nanomedicine. Confocal microscopy image of siRNA transfection using L-NVs, reprinted with permission from de Jonge,et al.,Gene Therapy, 2006,13, 400–411.

Docetaxel-loaded liposomes: preparation, pH sensitivity, pharmacokinetics, and tissue distribution

Docetaxel (DTX), as a member of taxoid family, has been widely used in the treatment of cancers. The present study prepared pH-sensitive DTX-loaded liposomes (DTX-Lips) by thin-film dispersion method and various physico-chemical and morphological properties were examined. The pH sensitivity of in vitro DTX release and the in vivo pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution using Kunming mice were also investigated. The mean particle size and zeta potential of DTX liposomes were (277±2) nm and (-32.60±0.26) mV, respectively. Additionally, in vitro drug release study showed that the cumulative release rate was 1.3 times more at pH 5.0 than at pH 7.4, suggesting a pH-dependent release ability of DTX-Lips. Pharmacokinetic and pharmaceutical studies in comparison with Duopafei(®) showed that the half-time period (t(1/2)) and area under the curve (AUC) of DTX-Lips in mouse plasma were 1.8 times longer and 2.6 times higher, respectively, and that DTX-Lips selectively accumulated in macrophage-rich organs such as liver and spleen. These results together suggest that the DTX-Lips could be a promising formulation for the clinical administration of DTX.

Modeling of matrix vesicle biomineralization using large unilamellar vesicles

Stable, large unilamellar vesicles (LUV) have been constructed that model matrix vesicles (MV) in inducing de novo mineral formation when incubated in synthetic cartilage lymph (SCL). Using a dialysis method for incorporation of predetermined pure lipid, electrolyte and protein constituents, the detergent n-octyl beta-D-glucopyranoside enabled formation of stable, impermeable LUV with a diameter ( approximately 300 nm), lipid composition (phosphatidylcholine-phosphatidylserine-cholesterol, 7:2:2, molar ratio) and enclosed inorganic phosphate level (25-100 mM) similar to that of native MV. Mineral formation by these LUVs was measured by 45Ca(2+) uptake and FTIR analysis following incubation in SCL. Addition of the ionophore A23187 to SCL enabled 45Ca(2+) uptake comparable to that of native MV. FTIR analysis revealed that crystalline mineral formed in the LUV during incubation in SCL, but not in the absence of ionophore. This mineral had an IR absorption spectrum like that of the acid-phosphate-rich, octacalcium phosphate-like mineral formed by native MV. Perturbing the LUV membrane with either detergents or phospholipase A(2) following prior incubation in SCL enabled egress of mineral crystallites from the vesicle lumen, stimulating further mineral formation. Annexin V, a major protein in native MV with known Ca(2+) channel activity, incorporated into the LUV lumen or added to the external medium, induced only limited 45Ca(2+) uptake. This indicates that additional factors are required for annexin V to form Ca(2+) channels. Nevertheless for the first time, stable LUVs have been constructed with MV-like lipid, electrolyte, and protein composition and size that induce formation of mineral like that formed by native MV.

Characterization and subcellular localization of calcium-dependent phospholipid binding proteins (annexins) in normal human skin and reconstituted epidermis

Annexins represent a widespread family of Ca(++)-dependent phospholipid binding proteins. Although their precise functions are still unknown, they probably play an important role in cell regulation because they are major substrates for various growth factor receptor kinases. We characterized annexins in human skin using three different antisera raised against annexin II, annexin V, and a synthetic peptide that resembles the consensus sequence of all annexins. In normal human skin, using SDS-PAGE, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and immunoblot analysis, we identified two major 34-kDa proteins and one 36-kDa protein, with respective isoelectric points of 6.5, 5.2, and 7.2-7.9. According to these criteria they were identified as annexins, I, V, and II, respectively. Minor 45-51 kDa and 68-kDa proteins with 6.1-6.7 and 6.8-7.1 isoelectric points were also present, and likely corresponded to annexins VII and VI, respectively. We investigated the ability of these proteins to bind phospholipids in the presence of calcium using liposomes formed from a mixture of phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylcholine. The cellular distribution of annexins in normal human skin was determined by immunofluorescence with antiannexin II and anti-annexin V antibodies. Labeling with both antibodies was observed predominantly at the cell membrane with some cytoplasmic staining also being apparent. Specificity was confirmed by the absence of staining using pre-immune sera or after the absorption of the antibodies with their corresponding antigens. These proteins were also characterized in vitro in a reconstituted human skin model. All were present in this system except annexin VI and VII, which were lost after phospholipid purification. Further experiments should now be carried out using this system to clarify the role and regulation of these proteins within the epidermis.

Encapsulation of drugs into large unilamellar liposomes prepared by an extemporaneous method

The method we developed for extemporaneous preparation of large unilamellar liposomes (Philippot et al. 1984) was applied to the encapsulation of 12 different antibiotic, anti-asthmatic and anti-inflammatory drugs. The behaviour of these drugs, during encapsulation, assigns them to one of the three classes: hydrophilic, hydrophobic or both. Alone, the first type of compound gave an appreciable encapsulation. However, the entrapment yield depended on the respective charges of the liposome and the drug. The amphiphile molecules tested are permeant and thus did not stay inside the liposomes. Only one of the hydrophobic drugs analysed associated with the liposome membrane lipids with a good yield.

Use of electron spin resonance spectroscopy of spin labels for studying drug-induced membrane perturbation

The use of electron spin resonance spectroscopy of spin labels is reviewed in the context of drug-induced membrane perturbation. The correlation between membrane perturbation and biological effects is also considered.

Solid phase extraction of the zwitterionic detergent chaps

Multiple techniques for solid phase adsorption of 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate (CHAPS) were evaluated. Both the porous polystyrene divinylbenzene matrices (BioBeads SMTM) and Extracti GelTM D reduced CHAPS to significantly below its critical micellar concentration while Extracti-GelTM removed CHAPS to below detectable limits. Bio-Bead extraction of CHAPS correlated with the surface area of the bead type. SM-16 beads, with the largest effective surface area, removed nearly 97% of the detergent. For a given amount of detergent and mass of Bio-Beads, the ratio of sample to total bead volume significantly affected CHAPS adsorption. Total protein recovery with the Extracti-GelTM was approximately 97%. Protein recovery in the samples treated with Bio-Beads varied from 56-95%. Chromatographic rather than batch processing yielded optimum recoveries. CHAPS can be effectively removed from dilute protein solutions by solid phase adsorption and this technique offers significant advantages over standard dialysis or gel filtration methods.