title: Immunoliposomes doubly targeted to transferrin receptor and to α-synuclein.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study was designed to test the cellular uptake of PEGylated liposomes targeted to transferrin receptor and to α-synuclein by a cell model of the blood-brain barrier (BBB).
  
  
  METHODS
  PEGylated immunoliposomes were prepared with anti-transferrin receptor OX26 and anti-α-synuclein LB509 antibodies to overcome the BBB in Parkinson's disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The doubly targeted immunoliposomes bind to transferrin receptor and to α-synuclein protein, as assessed by ELISA assays. We establish that 40% of an encapsulated tested drug (epigallocatechin-3-gallate) is released in a time frame of 44 h, which is reasonable for sustained release. The cellular uptake of doubly targeted immunoliposomes in cultured brain endothelial cells hCMEC/D3 was two-times more efficient than that of PEGylated liposomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Immunoliposomes targeted to BBB receptors and to α-synuclein could potentially enable the transport of drugs across the BBB and reach one of the drug targets in Parkinson's disease.
authors.affiliation: LEPABE, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal; LEPABE, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Joana A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Loureiro
authors.affiliation: LEPABE, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal; LEPABE, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Bárbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.affiliation: LEPABE, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal; LEPABE, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Manuel An
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.affiliation: LEPABE, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal; LEPABE, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: do Carmo Pereira
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology & Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg SE-41296, Sweden; Department of Biology & Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg SE-41296, Sweden.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rocha
keywords: blood–brain barrier; drug delivery; dual targeting; immunoliposomes; peptidomimetic monoclonal antibodies; transferrin receptor; α-synuclein