Study of liposomal drug delivery systems 2. Encapsulation efficiencies of some steroids in MLV liposomes

Proliposome Powders for the Generation of Liposomes: the Influence of Carbohydrate Carrier and Separation Conditions on Crystallinity and Entrapment of a Model Antiasthma Steroid

Formulation effects on the entrapment of beclometasone dipropionate (BDP) in liposomes generated by hydration of proliposomes were studied, using the high-density dispersion medium deuterium oxide in comparison to deionized water (DW). Proliposomes incorporating BDP (2 mol% of the lipid phase consisting of soya phosphatidylcholine (SPC) and cholesterol; 1:1) were manufactured, using lactose monohydrate (LMH), sorbitol or D-mannitol as carbohydrate carriers (1:5 w/w lipid to carrier). Following hydration of proliposomes, separation of BDP-entrapped liposomes from the unentrapped (free) BDP at an optimized centrifugation duration of 90 min and a centrifugation force of 15,500g were identified. The dispersion medium was found to have a major influence on separation of BDP-entrapped liposomes from the unentrapped drug. Entrapment efficiency values were higher than 95% as estimated when DW was used. By contrast, the entrapment efficiency was 19.69 ± 5.88, 28.78 ± 4.69 and 34.84 ± 3.62% upon using D₂O as a dispersion medium (for LMH-, sorbitol- and D-mannitol-based proliposomes, respectively). The similarity in size of liposomes and BDP crystals was found to be responsible for co-sedimentation of liposomes and free BDP crystals upon centrifugation in DW, giving rise to the falsely high entrapment values estimated. This was remedied by the use of D₂O as confirmed by light microscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (¹HNMR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and entrapment studies. This study showed that carrier type has a significant influence on the entrapment of BDP in liposomes generated from proliposomes, and using D₂O is essential for accurate determination of steroid entrapment in the vesicles.

Disruption of mitochondrial complexes in cancer stem cells through nano-based drug delivery: a promising mitochondrial medicine

Mitochondria are the fulcrum for regulating cellular metabolism as well as apoptosis. The multi-lamellar vesicles (MLVs) liposome targeted against mitochondria can be formulated to disrupt mitochondrial integrity to attain programmed cell death of cancer stem cells (CSCs). The gold nanoparticles (GNPs) and a steroid nucleus (cyclopentanoperhydrophenanthrene ring) are encapsulated within MLV liposome that targets specifically to the CD44 receptor of the CSCs. Entering cytosol, it would bind distinctively to the malate-aspartate shuttle through a specifically designed ligand. Liposome fuses with the mito-membrane after associating with shuttle, thereby releasing both the components. The steroid disrupts mito-membrane's integrity facilitating release of cytochrome c. Thus, GNPs enter into the mitosol and interact with the mitochondrial complexes to cease cellular respiration. Since the solid nano-based pharmaceutics has shown a lot of promises as a potent anticancer therapy, the role of MLV liposome can be proved to be a better weapon to terminate malignancy.

Liposomes in drug delivery: a patent review (2007 - present)

INTRODUCTION

Drug therapy is frequently limited by the widespread biodistribution of the active agents and the little specificity for non-healthy cells. Therefore, inadequate drug concentrations result into the site of action, and severe toxicity may also arise. To address the problem, liposome-based medicines have tried to improve pharmacotherapy.

AREAS COVERED

The review provides an updated revision of the lately published patents covering recent advances in liposome-based drug delivery. They are principally related to the control of drug biodistribution by using stealth, stimuli-sensitive and/or liposomal structures surface modified for ligand-mediated delivery. The contribution further highlights liposome-based theranosis.

EXPERT OPINION

Liposomes have received great attention given their biocompatibility, biodegradability and targetability. From 2007 to present date, patent publications related to their use in drug delivery have shown the move towards more stable structures with optimized drug delivery capabilities, further combining passive and active targeting concepts to gain control of the in vivo fate. However, the introduction of all these liposomal structures in the disease arena is still a challenge. Two key aspects are the difficulty of identifying easy and economic synthesis conditions which can be scaled up in the pharmaceutical industry, and the need for complementary investigations illustrating risks of toxicity/immunogenicity.

Physicochemical properties of extruded and non-extruded liposomes containing the hydrophobic drug dexamethasone

The physicochemical and release properties of non-extruded 'multilamellar' and small sonicated and extruded 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC), 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) and 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC) liposomes containing hydrophobic drug dexamethasone were investigated. Non-extruded liposomes had similar diameter, however dexamethasone encapsulation decreased with increase in lipid chain length. Dexamethasone destabilized the liposome membranes as indicated by decrease in enthalpy and increase in the peak width of the main transition. Based on calorimetric analysis, it appeared that dexamethasone and cholesterol were heterogeneously distributed in the non-extruded liposomes. Sonication and extrusion reduced the diameter (DSPC>DPPC>DMPC) and decreased drug encapsulation (approximately 50%). Cholesterol incorporation decreased drug encapsulation in both extruded and non-extruded DMPC liposomes which appeared to be due to structural similarities between cholesterol and dexamethasone. Incorporation of dexamethasone and cholesterol in the same DMPC liposomes caused a marked perturbation in the phase transition. Dexamethasone release from extruded liposomes was fast, while non-extruded liposomes showed slower release. Release was fastest from DMPC liposomes and slowest from liposomes of high phase transition lipid DSPC. Incorporation of cholesterol did not decrease release from DMPC liposomes. These results indicated that change in the physicochemical properties and the phase transition behavior of liposomes, due to processing as well as incorporation of hydrophobic drug dexamethasone, changed their release properties.

Inducing effect of liposomalization on the transdermal delivery of hydrocortisone: Creation of a drug supersaturated state

In order to investigate the effect of liposomal drugs on skin delivery, it was postulated that the process of liposomalization might lead the drug to an overpredicted solubility state which has far-reaching implications for drug skin permeation and accumulation. In this regard, conventional (CL) and flexible liposomes (FL) were prepared by the lipid film hydration method and the particles were downsized by sonication using hydrocortisone (HC) as a poorly water soluble model drug. The solutions derived from the whole CL and FL suspensions eluted on a Sephadex G-50 column (SG-50) demonstrated that most part of HC not only resides solely in the water phase but also it might exist in an improved solubility state. The results of the in vitro study using rat abdominal skin and occlusive application indicated that HC penetrated and accumulated much better solely than when associated with CL or FL. In regard to the penetration of the non-entrapped HC associated to liposomes bilayer fragments, a very small amount of phospholipids in the non-liposomal part eluted on SG-50 was found that could not justify by itself the penetration of HC associated to liposome bilayer fragments. It was proposed that all the steps of the liposomes preparation process might contribute for the increased HC solubility state, but definitively the presence of phospholipids played a crucial role on improving the HC solubility in the absence of sodium cholate. In comparison with commercially available ointments, the non-entrapped HC solution derived from the whole CL suspension eluted on SG-50 showed a higher concentration of HC accumulated and more uniformly distributed as well in the epidermis and dermis compartments. In addition, the thermodynamic activity of the non-entrapped HC solutions maintaining a driving force of the drug across the skin barrier pointed out that the level of HC solubility achieved during liposome preparation has far-reaching implication for drug skin permeation and accumulation in the experimental conditions used. The findings also indicated that the non-entrapped drug solutions obtained on the process of liposomalization could be useful on transdermal drug delivery systems, particularly for improving the permeation and accumulation capacity of poorly soluble drugs.