title: Synthesis of apolipoprotein B lipoparticles to deliver hydrophobic/amphiphilic materials.
abstract: To develop a drug delivery system (DDS), it is critical to address challenging tasks such as the delivery of hydrophobic and amphiphilic compounds, cell uptake, and the metabolic fate of the drug delivery carrier. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) has been acknowledged as the human serum transporter of natively abundant lipoparticles such as cholesterol, triacylglycerides, and lipids. Apolipoprotein B (apo B) is the only protein contained in LDL, and possesses a binding moiety for the LDL receptor that can be internalized and degraded naturally by the cell. Therefore, synthetic/reconstituting apoB lipoparticle (rABL) could be an excellent delivery carrier for hydrophobic or amphiphilic materials. Here, we synthesized rABL in vitro, using full-length apoB through a five-step solvent exchange method, and addressed its potential as a DDS. Our rABL exhibited good biocompatibility when evaluated with cytotoxicity and cell metabolic response assays, and was stable during storage in phosphate-buffered saline at 4 °C for several months. Furthermore, hydrophobic superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONPs) and the anticancer drug M4N (tetra-O-methyl nordihydroguaiaretic acid), used as an imaging enhancer and lipophilic drug model, respectively, were incorporated into the rABL, leading to the formation of SPIONPs- and M4N- containing rABL (SPIO@rABL and M4N@rABL, respectively). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy suggested that rABL has a similar composition to that of LDL, and successfully incorporated SPIONPs or M4N. SPIO@rABL presented significant hepatic contrast enhancement in T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in BALB/c mice, suggesting its potential application as a medical imaging contrast agent. M4N@rABL could reduce the viability of the cancer cell line A549. Interestingly, we developed solution-phase high-resolution transmission electron microscopy to observe both LDL and SPIO@rABL in the liquid state. In summary, our LDL-based DDS, rABL, has significant potential as a novel DDS for hydrophobic and amphiphilic materials, with good cell internalization properties and metabolicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 30050, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsueh-Liang
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Tsai-Mu
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Hung-Wei
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Fu-Hsuan
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Yu-Chuan
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Hsin-Yu
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Shih-Yi
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yu-Chuan
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Ming-Hua
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Dian-Shyeu
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Hsing-Yuan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Li-Ping
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Ping-Ching
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Fu-Rong
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Gong-Shen
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Dar-Bin
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Shieh
authors.forename: Chia-Seng
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Chia-Hao
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Zemin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Chia-Ching
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000737:chemistry*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000737:chemistry; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D008280:Magnetics; D008422:Materials Testing; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000379:methods; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared / Q000379:methods; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D008074:Lipoproteins; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; C000499:ferric oxide; D002784:Cholesterol