Doxorubicin-loaded phosphatidylethanolamine-conjugated nanoliposomes: in vitro characterization and their accumulation in liver, kidneys, and lungs in rats.
BACKGROUND
Phosphatidylethanolamine (PE)-conjugated nanoliposomes were developed, characterized, and investigated for their accumulation in liver, kidneys, and lungs in rats.


METHODS
Drug-excipient interaction was studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), surface morphology by field emission scanning electron microscopy, elemental analysis by energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, zeta potential and size distribution using a Zetasizer and particle size analyzer, and in vitro drug release by dialysis membrane. In vivo accumulation of liposomes in tissues was also studied.


RESULTS
No chemical reaction was observed between drug and excipients. EDX study confirmed PE-conjugation in liposomes. Doxorubicin-loaded liposomes (DOX-L) and PE-conjugated doxorubicin-loaded liposomes (DOX-PEL) were of smooth surface and homogenously distributed in nanosize range (32-37 nm) with a negative surface charge. Loading efficiencies were 49.25% ± 1.05% and 52.98% ± 3.22% respectively, for DOX-L and DOX-PEL. In vitro drug release study showed 69.91% ± 1.05% and 77.07% ± 1.02% doxorubicin released, from DOX-L and DOX-PEL, respectively, in nine hours. Fluorescence microscopic study showed that liposomes were well distributed in liver, lungs, and kidneys.


CONCLUSIONS
Data suggests that PE-conjugated nanoliposomes released the drug in a sustained manner and were capable of distributing them in various organs. This may be used for cell/ tissue targeting, attaching specific antibodies to PE.
Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata (Calcutta), India.
Anandamoy
A
Rudra
R Manasa
RM
Deepa
Miltu Kumar
MK
Ghosh
Subhajit
S
Ghosh
Biswajit
B
Mukherjee
D000818:Animals; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D005079:Excipients; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D008081:Liposomes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D058726:Nanoconjugates / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D050997:Nanomedicine; D010316:Particle Size; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D005079:Excipients; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D008081:Liposomes; D058726:Nanoconjugates; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines; C483858:phosphatidylethanolamine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate