Multivesicular liposome formulations for the sustained delivery of interferon alpha-2b.
OBJECTIVE
To develop and optimize a sustained release multivesicular liposome (MVL) formulation of interferon (IFN) alpha-2b.


METHODS
IFN alpha-2b MVL were prepared using a typical double-emulsion procedure. The sustained release effects of IFN alpha-2b MVL were investigated by monitoring the blood IFN alpha-2b concentration using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test after subcutaneous administration to healthy mice.


RESULTS
IFN alpha-2b was successfully encapsulated in MVL with high efficiency, and the integrity of encapsulated protein was maintained. After subcutaneous injection, the MVL slowly released IFN alpha-2b into systemic circulation in a sustained manner. The estimated serum half-life of IFN alpha-2b was approximately 30 h. In addition, varying the size of the MVL preparations could further modify the in vivo release profile.


CONCLUSIONS
IFN alpha-2b MVL may be a useful sustained release formulation in the clinical treatment of viral diseases.
Qiu
Jian
J
School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China.
Wei
Xiao-hui
XH
Geng
Fang
F
Liu
Rui
R
Zhang
Jing-wu
JW
Xu
Yu-hong
YH
D000818:Animals; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004339:Drug Compounding / Q000379:methods*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005260:Female; D006207:Half-Life; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D008081:Liposomes; D010316:Particle Size; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D008081:Liposomes; D011994:Recombinant Proteins