[Comparison of sonoporation effect of liposomes and phospholipids-based microbubbles on cultured cell membrane].
OBJECTIVE
To compare sonoporation effect of two phospholipids-based vectors-liposomes and microbubbles on cultured cell membrane.


METHODS
A breast cancer cell line SK-BR-3 was exposed to ultrasound alone, 2% or 5% liposome + ultrasound and 2% or 5% microbubble + ultrasound, separately. Immediately after the experiment and 24 h after ultrasound exposure, atomic-force microscopy (AFM) scanning was used to observe the membrane change of SK-BR-3 cells.


RESULTS
After ultrasound exposure, normal SK-BR-3 cells more or less lost their natural shape, showing elliptic outline with obtuse curved boundary. In groups added with phospholipids-based microbubbles, more obtuse curved boundary of cells was observed. The membrane pores of SK-BR-3 cells had apparent changes after ultrasound exposure. With AFM technique, membrane pores under ultrasound alone or ultrasound with liposomes conditions were enlarged, the diameter of some pores exceeding 1 microm. But all the membrane pores in these conditions returned to normal appearance after 24 hours. In ultrasound with 2% microbubble condition, most membrane pores were about 1 - 3 microm in size and returned to normal appearance after 24 h. In ultrasound with 5% microbubble condition, however, pores of most cell membrane porosity was about 2 - 4 pm and did not totally return to normal appearance after 24 h.


CONCLUSIONS
At 2% concentration, phospholipids-based microbubble could enhance ultrasonic sonoporation effect and produce reparable membrane pores on SK-BR-3 cells, which appeared to be a promising vehicle for drug and gene delivery.
Zhao
Ying-Zheng
YZ
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, General Hospital of Beijing Command, PLA, Beijing 100700, China. lctuua@yahoo.com.cn
Luo
Yu-Kun
YK
Tang
Jie
J
Zhang
Yan
Y
Lin
Qian
Q
Mei
Xing-Guo
XG
D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D004337:Drug Carriers; D008081:Liposomes; D045423:Microbubbles; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000737:chemistry; D016062:Porosity; D013010:Sonication / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013678:Technology, Pharmaceutical
D004337:Drug Carriers; D008081:Liposomes; D010743:Phospholipids