Lipophilic prodrugs of a triazole-containing colchicine analogue in liposomes: Biological effects on human tumor cells

Colchicine site binders—blockers of tubulin polymerization—are potential antimitotic agents for anticancer therapy. To reduce their systemic toxicity and improve biodistribution, encapsulation in nanosized liposomes may be employed. Liposomes present a convenient means for preparation of injectable for-mulations of hydrophobic compounds, however colchicine as such is known to leak through the lipid bilayer. In this study, newly synthesized triazole-containing analogues of colchicine and allocolchicine, and their palmitic and oleic esters (lipophilic prodrugs) were tested for anti-proliferative activity and apoptosis-inducing potential. In contrast to colchicine conjugates, whose activities ranged with those of colchicine, allocolchicine derivatives exhibited drastically lower effects and were discarded. Liposomes of about 100 nm in diameter composed of egg phosphatidylcholine-yeast phosphatidylinositol-palmitic or oleic prodrug, 8: 1: 1, by mol, were prepared by standard extrusion technique and tested in a panel of four human tumor cell lines. Liposome formulations preserved the biological activities of the parent colchicinoid the most towards human epithelial tumor cells. Moreover, liposomal form of the oleoyl bearing colchicinoid inhibited cell proliferation more efficiently than free lipophilic prodrug. Due to substantial loading capacity of the liposomes, the dispersions contain sufficient concentration of the active agent to test wide dose range in experiments on systemic administration to animals.     

Liposome formulations of combretastatin A4 and its 4-arylcoumarin analogue prodrugs: The antitumor effect in the mouse model of breast cancer

The antimitotic agent combretastatin A-4 (CA-4) has been recently proposed as an antivascular agent for anticancer therapy. In order to reduce systemic toxicity by means of administration in liposome formulations, new lipophilic prodrugs, oleic derivatives of CA-4 and its 4-arylcoumarin analogue (CA4-Ole and ArC-Ole, respectively), have been synthesized in this study. Liposomes with mean diameter of 100 nm prepared on the basis of egg phosphatidylcholine and baker’s yeast phosphatidylinositol quantitatively included up to 15 mol% of CA4-Ole, or 7 mol% of ArC-Ole. To achieve targeting to neovascular endothelium prodrug bearing liposomes decorated with the tetrasaccharide selectin ligand Sialyl Lewis X (SiaLeX) have been also prepared. The antitumor activity was studied in vivo using the model of slow-growing mouse breast cancer. Under the dose used (22 mg/kg) and the administration protocol (four injections, one per a week, starting from the appearance of palpable tumors) cytostatic CA-4 did not reveal any anticancer effect; moreover, it even stimulated tumor growth. The liposome formulations of CA4-Ole did not demonstrate such stimulation. However, to achieve a pronounced antitumor effect, the number of injections of liposomes should be apparently increased. The cytotoxic activity of a novel antimitotic agent ArC was one order of magnitude lower in the human breast carcinoma cell culture in vitro. Nevertheless, in vivo in the mouse model of breast cancer the antitumor effect of this compound corresponded to the double equivalent dose of CA-4. The results demonstrate perspectives of SiaLe^X-liposomes loaded with ArC-Ole: the preparation partially inhibited tumor growth already after the second injection. Thus, subsequent optimization of doses and regimens of administration both for ArC and liposomal ArC-Ole formulations are needed.     

Visualization of bioavailable liposomal doxorubicin using a non-perturbing confocal imaging technique

Commonly employed tissue processing techniques can significantly alter tissue drug distribution patterns for liposomal encapsulated drugs by virtue of drug leakage via loss of membrane integrity. We report here a method that has been developed to determine the fluorescence of bioavailable doxorubicin (DOX) in tissues after administration of liposomal DOX formulations. A non-perturbing confocal fluorescence microscopy (CFM) technique with image processing analysis was used with unprocessed fresh tissues. This method takes advantage of the fact that considerable quenching occurs when DOX is within liposomes, leading to the selective visualization of the fluorescence due to DOX released from liposomes. We demonstrate that fresh tissue confocal imaging can be applied to provide detailed drug distribution information with improved accuracy and is a superior method for analyzing tissue distribution of liposome entrapped fluorescent agents.     

曲妥珠单抗修饰的阿霉素免疫脂质体的制备及体外性质研究

目的:制备表面键合曲妥珠单抗(trastuzumab,TMAB)的阿霉素免疫脂质(Doxorubicin-loadedimmunoliposome,DOX-IML),并对其体外性质进行研究。方法:将磷脂酰胆碱、胆固醇、阿霉素、DSPE-MPEG2000以一定比例混合,采用薄膜超声分散法制备阿霉素脂质体,将聚乙二醇衍生物(1,2-Distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[succinimidyl(polyethylene glycol)-3400]、DSPE-PEG3400-NHS)连接到TMAB;再与阿霉素脂质体连接得到DOX-IML。研究不同浓度的TMAB对DOX-IML入胞能力及细胞毒性的影响;测定免疫脂质体的包封率、载药率、粒径、电荷及稳定性等性质;动态透析法模拟体外释药特性,激光共聚焦观察免疫脂质体对AU565细胞抗体介导的入胞作用;MTT法研究DOX-IML抑制肿瘤细胞的生长。结果:成功制备了表面键合TMAB的阿霉素免疫脂质体,配体载入率分别是53%、75.5%、84%;每毫克DOX-IML中抗体的含量分别是37、83、108μg·mg-1;阿霉素的包封率为76.85%、载药量为8.03%;粒径131.8nm;表面电荷-27mV。抗体含量83μg·mg-1的DOX-IML组的细胞存活率最低,细胞内荧光强度最高,且该免疫脂质体稳定性良好,具有一定缓释作用。DOX-IML具有较强的特异性靶向作用,其入胞能力和细胞毒性均高于阿霉素脂质体。结论:DOX-IML具有较强的特异性靶向作用,其入胞能力和细胞毒性均高于阿霉素脂质体,抗体含量适中时其入胞能力和细胞毒性最强。     

Significantly enhanced tumor cellular and lysosomal hydroxychloroquine delivery by smart liposomes for optimal autophagy inhibition and improved antitumor efficiency with liposomal doxorubicin

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) inhibits autophagy and therefore can sensitize some cancer cells to chemotherapy, but the high doses required limit its clinical use. Here we show that loading HCQ into liposomes (HCQ/Lip) decorated with a pH-sensitive TH-RGD targeting peptide (HCQ/Lip-TR) can concentrate HCQ in B16F10 tumor cells and lysosomes. HCQ/Lip-TR was efficiently internalized as a result of its ability to bind ITGAV-ITGB3/integrin α_vβ₃ receptors highly expressed on the tumor cell surface and to undergo charge reversal from anionic at pH 7.4 to cationic at pH 6.5. Studies in vitro at pH 6.5 showed that the intracellular HCQ concentration was 35.68-fold higher, and lysosomal HCQ concentration 32.22-fold higher, after treating cultures with HCQ/Lip-TR than after treating them with free HCQ. The corresponding enhancements observed in mice bearing B16F10 tumors were 15.16-fold within tumor cells and 14.10-fold within lysosomes. HCQ/Lip-TR was associated with milder anemia and milder myosuppressive reductions in white blood cell and platelet counts than free HCQ, as well as less accumulation in the small intestine, which may reduce risk of intestinal side effects. In addition, co-delivering HCQ/Lip-TR with either free doxorubicin (DOX) or liposomal DOX improved the ability of DOX to inhibit tumor growth. Biochemical, electron microscopy and immunofluorescence experiments confirmed that HCQ/Lip-TR blocked autophagic flux in tumor cells. Our results suggest that loading HCQ into Lip-TR liposomes may increase the effective concentration of the inhibitor in tumor cells, allowing less toxic doses to be used.     

Hyaluronic acid modified pH-sensitive liposomes for targeted intracellular delivery of doxorubicin

Context: Surface-modified pH-sensitive liposomal system may be useful for intracellular delivery of chemotherapeutics.

Objective: Achieving site-specific targeting with over-expressed hyaluronic acid (HA) receptors along with using pH sensitive liposome carrier for intracellular drug delivery was the aim of this study.

Materials and methods: Stealth HA-targeted pH-sensitive liposomes (SL-pH-HA) were developed and evaluated to achieve effective intracellular delivery of doxorubicin (DOX) vis–a-vis enhanced antitumor activity.

Results: The in vitro release studies demonstrated that the release of DOX from SL-pH-HA was pH-dependent, i.e. faster at mildly acidic pH ～5, compared to physiological pH ～7.4. SLpH-HA was evaluated for their cytotoxicity potential on CD44 receptor expressing MCF-7 cells. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of SL-pH-HA and SL-HA were about 1.9 and 2.5?μM, respectively, after 48?h of incubation. The quantitative uptake study revealed higher localization of targeted liposomes in the receptor positive cells, which was further confirmed by fluorescent microscopy. The antitumor efficacy of the DOX-loaded HA-targeted pH-sensitive liposomes was also verified in a tumor xenograft mouse model.

Discussion: DOX was efficiently delivered to the tumor site by active targeting via HA and CD44 receptor interaction. The major side-effect of conventional DOX formulation, i.e. cardiotoxicity was also estimated by measuring serum enzyme levels of LDH and CPK and found to be minimized with developed formulation. Overall, HA targeted pH-sensitive liposomes were significantly more potent than the non-targeted liposomes in cells expressing high levels of CD44.

Conclusion: Results strongly implies the promise of such liposomal system as an intracellular drug delivery carrier developed for potential anticancer treatment.     

Acid-activatable prodrug nanogels for efficient intracellular doxorubicin release

Endosomal pH-activatable doxorubicin (DOX) prodrug nanogels were designed, prepared, and investigated for triggered intracellular drug release in cancer cells. DOX prodrugs with drug grafting contents of 3.9, 5.7, and 11.7 wt % (denoted as prodrugs 1, 2, and 3, respectively) were conveniently obtained by sequential treatment of poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-ethyl glycinate methacrylamide) (PEG-b-P(HEMA-co-EGMA)) copolymers with hydrazine and doxorubicin hydrochloride. Notably, prodrugs 1, 2, and 3 formed monodispersed nanogels with average sizes of 114.4, 75.3, and 66.3 nm, respectively, in phosphate buffer (PB, 10 mM, pH 7.4). The in vitro release results showed that DOX was released rapidly and nearly quantitatively from DOX prodrug nanogels at endosomal pH and 37 °C in 48 h, whereas only a minor amount (ca. 20% or less) of drug was released at pH 7.4 under otherwise the same conditions. Confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) observations revealed that DOX prodrug nanogels delivered and released DOX into the cytosols as well as cell nuclei of RAW 264.7 cells following 24 h incubation. MTT assays demonstrated that prodrug 3 had pronounced cytotoxic effects to tumor cells following 72 h incubation with IC(50) data determined to be 2.0 and 3.4 μg DOX equiv/mL for RAW 264.7 and MCF-7 tumor cells, respectively. The corresponding polymer carrier, PEG-b-P(HEMA-co-GMA-hydrazide), was shown to be nontoxic up to a tested concentration of 1.32 mg/mL. These endosomal pH-activatable DOX prodrug nanogels uniquely combining features of water-soluble macromolecular prodrugs and nanogels offer a promising platform for targeted cancer therapy.     

Investigation of parameters influencing incorporation,retention and cellular cytotoxicity in liposomal formulations of poorly soluble camptothecin

Abstract

Improving tumor delivery of lipophilic drugs through identifying advanced drug carrier systems with efficient carrier potency is of high importance. We have performed an investigative approach to identify parameters that affect liposomes’ ability to effectively deliver lipophilic camptothecin (CPT) to target cells. CPT is a potent anticancer drug, but its undesired physiological properties are impairing its therapeutic use. In this study, we have identified parameters influencing incorporation and retention of lipophilic CPT in liposomes, evaluating the effect of lipid composition, lipid chemical structure (head and tail group variations, polymer inclusion), zeta potential and anisotropy. Polyethyleneglycol (PEG) surface decoration was included to avoid liposome fusing and increase the potential for prolonged in vivo circulation time. The in vitro effect of the different carrier formulations on cell cytotoxicity was compared and the effect of active targeting of one of the formulations was evaluated. We found that a combination of liposome surface charge, lipid headgroup and carbon chain unsaturation affect CPT incorporation. Retention in liposomes was highly dependent on the liposomal surroundings and liposome zeta potential. Inclusion of lipid tethered PEG provided stability and prevented liposome fusing. PEGylation negatively affected CPT incorporation while improving retention. In vitro cell culture testing demonstrated that all formulations increased CPT potency compared to free CPT, while cationic formulations proved significantly more toxic to cancer cells that healthy cells. Finally, antibody mediated targeting of one liposome formulation further enhanced the selectivity towards targeted cancer cells, rendering normal cells fully viable after 1 hour exposure to targeted liposomes.     

Drug release rate influences the pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, therapeutic activity, and toxicity of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin formulations in murine breast cancer

The pharmacokinetics (PK), biodistribution (BD), and therapeutic activity of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin formulations with different drug release rates were studied in an orthotopic 4T1 murine mammary carcinoma model. The focus of these experiments was to study the effects of different release rates on the accumulation of liposomal lipid and doxorubicin (DXR) into the tumor and cutaneous tissues of mice (skin and paws). These tissues were chosen because the clinical formulation of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (Caelyx)/Doxi) causes mucocutaneous reactions such as palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia (PPE). Liposomes with different doxorubicin (DXR) leakage rates were prepared by altering liposome fluidity through changing the fatty acyl chain length and/or degree of saturation of the phosphatidylcholine component of the liposome. Liposomes with fast, intermediate, and slow rates of drug release were studied. The plasma PK of the liposomal lipid was similar for all formulations, while the plasma PK of the DXR component was dependent on the liposome formulation. Liposomal lipid accumulated to similar levels in tumor and cutaneous tissues for all three formulations tested, while the liposomes with the slowest rates of DXR release produced the highest DXR concentrations in both cutaneous tissues and in tumor. Liposomes with the fastest drug release rates resulted in low DXR concentrations in cutaneous tissues and tumor. The formulation with intermediate release rates produced unexpected toxicity that was not related to the lipid content of the formulation. The liposomes with the slowest rate of drug leakage had the best therapeutic activity of the formulations tested.     

Anticancer double lipid prodrugs: liposomal preparation and characterization

The escape of encapsulated anticancer drugs from liposomes by passive diffusion often leads to suboptimal drug concentrations in the cancer tissue, therefore calling for effective trigger mechanisms to release the drug at the target. We investigated mixtures of lipid components that not only form stable liposomes, but also can be turned into active drugs by secretory phospholipase A? (sPLA?), an enzyme that is upregulated in various cancer cells, without the necessity for conventional liposome drug loading. The liposomes are composed of a novel lipid-based retinoid prodrug premixed with saturated phospholipids. The prodrug is found to be miscible with phospholipids, and the lipid mixtures are shown to form liposomes with the desired size distribution. The preparation procedure, phase behavior, and physicochemical properties of the formed liposomes are described as a function of lipid composition. We show that the premixing of the prodrug with phospholipids can be used to modify the physicochemical properties of liposomal formulations. The results should prove useful for further exploration of the potential for using these novel lipid prodrugs in liposomal formulations for cancer treatment.     

Synthesis of a lipid derivative of the antitumor agent methotrexate

A lipophilic methotrexate prodrug capable of incorporation into membranes of carrier liposomes was synthesized. The conjugate consists of a lipophilic rac-1,2-dioleoylglycerol anchor connected to methotrexate through beta(Ala)-N-carbonylmethylene linker, which should be located in the polar region of the lipid bilayer. The ester bond between the hydrophilic linker and the antitumor agent can be hydrolyzed by intracellular esterases. The liposomal formulation of the prodrug exhibited a cytotoxic activity in vitro. The English version of the paper: Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry, 2004, vol. 30, no. 6; see also http://www.maik.ru.     

Selective transfer of a lipophilic prodrug of 5-fluorodeoxyuridine from immunoliposomes to colon cancer cells.

A monoclonal antibody against the rat colon carcinoma CC531 was covalently coupled to liposomes containing a dipalmitoylated derivative of the anticancer drug FUdR as a prodrug in their bilayers. We investigated the in vitro interaction of these liposomes with CC531 target cells and the mechanism by which they deliver the active drug FUdR intracellularly to the cells by monitoring the fate of the liposomal bilayer markers cholesterol-[(14)C]oleate and [(3)H]cholesteryloleylether as well as the (3)H-labeled prodrug and colloidal gold as an encapsulated liposome marker. After binding of the immunoliposomes to the cell surface, only limited amounts were internalized as demonstrated by a low level of hydrolysis of liposomal cholesterol ester and by morphological studies employing colloidal gold-labeled immunoliposomes. By contrast, already within 24 h immunoliposome-incorporated FUdR-dP was hydrolyzed virtually completely to the parent drug FUdR intracellularly. This process was inhibited by a variety of endocytosis inhibitors, indicating that the prodrug enters and is processed by the cells by a mechanism involving an endocytic process, resulting in intracellular FUdR concentrations up to 3000-fold higher than those in the medium. Immunoliposomes containing poly(ethyleneglycol) (PEG) chains on their surface, with the antibody coupled either directly to the bilayer or at the distal end of the PEG chains were able to deliver the prodrug into the tumor cells at the same rate as immunoliposomes without PEG. Based on these observations, we tentatively conclude that during the interaction of the immunoliposomes with the tumor cells the lipophilic prodrug FUdR-dP is selectively transferred to the cell surface and subsequently internalized by constitutive endocytic or pinocytic invaginations of the plasma membrane, thus ultimately delivering the prodrug to a lysosomal compartment where hydrolysis and release of parent drug takes place. This concept allows for an efficient delivery of a liposome-associated drug without the need for the liposome as such to be internalized by the cells.     

In vitro cytotoxicity of liposome-encapsulated doxorubicin: dependence on liposome composition and drug release.

We have investigated the in vitro cytotoxicity of free doxorubicin (DOX) and liposome-entrapped DOX (L-DOX) against a human ovarian carcinoma cell line (OV-1063) using a colorimetric assay. DOX was encapsulated in the inner water phase of liposomes by an ammonium sulfate-generated proton gradient. Liposomes varied in phospholipid composition but were of a similar size. It was found that the cytotoxic activity of L-DOX is substantially decreased when liposomes containing phospholipids of high phase-transition temperature (Tm) are used. The type of negatively charged headgroup did not have any significant influence on the cytotoxicity observed. Experiments using resin beads that bind free and protein-bound DOX, but do not interact with L-DOX, indicated that the cytotoxic effect is mediated by the release of drug from the liposomes into the extracellular medium; no evidence was found for direct cellular uptake of liposome-encapsulated drug. The use of the ionophore nigericin to induce the release of DOX from high-Tm liposomes increased cytotoxicity to a level comparable to free DOX, suggesting that 'remote release' techniques may substantially improve the efficiency of liposome-mediated drug delivery and allow for the full exploitation of the favorable pharmacokinetic properties of specific high-Tm formulations.     

Liposomal muramyl dipeptide therapy of experimental M5076 liver metastases in mice

Summary The effectiveness ofN-acetylmuramyl-l-alanyl-d-isoglutamine (MDP) or of liposomes containing a lipophilic MDP derivative, MDP-glyceroyldipalmitate MDP-GDP in inhibiting the growth of M5076 reticulum cell sarcoma liver metastases in C57BL/6 mice has been determined. MDP (100 µg) or liposomal MDP-GDP (2.5 µmol containing 1 µg) were equally effective in inhibiting liver metastatic growth when given as a single treatment 3 days before tumor cell injection. Therapeutic treatment, initiated 3 days after tumor cell injection and continued for a period of 2 weeks, failed to inhibit metastatic growth. Activation of thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal macrophages or Kupffer cells in vitro with MDP or liposomal MDP-GDP resulted in the expression of tumoricidal activity against M5076 tumor cells. Adoptive cellular therapy with four injections of 2 × 10⁶ macrophages was ineffective: activation of the macrophages with either MDP or liposomal MDP-GDP prior to injection was effective in inhibiting liver metastatic growth. Incorporation of the macrophage toxin dichlorodimethylene diphosphonate within liposomes containing MDP-GDP abolished the ability of such liposomes to induce macrophage or Kupffer cell tumoricidal activity in vitro as well as the antitumor activity when administered 3 days before tumor cell challenge.     

Formulation of liposomes functionalized with Lotus lectin and effective in targeting highly proliferative cells

BackgroundLiposomes, used to improve the therapeutic index of new and established drugs, have advanced with the insertion of active targeting. The lectin from Lotus tetragonolobus (LTL), which binds glycans containing alpha-1,2-linked fucose, reveals surface regionalized glycoepitopes in highly proliferative cells not detectable in normally growing cells. In contrast, other lectins localize the corresponding glycoepitopes all over the cell surface. LTL also proved able to penetrate the cells by an unconventional uptake mechanism.MethodsWe used confocal laser microscopy to detect and localize LTL-positive glycoepitopes and lectin uptake in two cancer cell lines. We then constructed doxorubicin-loaded liposomes functionalized with LTL. Intracellular delivery of the drug was determined in vitro and in vivo by confocal and electron microscopy.ResultsWe confirmed the specific localization of Lotus binding sites and the lectin uptake mechanism in the two cell lines and determined that LTL-functionalized liposomes loaded with doxorubicin greatly increased intracellular delivery of the drug, compared to unmodified doxorubicin-loaded liposomes. The LTL-Dox-L mechanism of entry and drug delivery was different to that of Dox-L and other liposomal preparations. LTL-Dox-L entered the cells one by one in tiny tubules that never fused with lysosomes. LTL-Dox-L injected in mice with melanoma specifically delivered loaded Dox to the cytoplasm of tumor cells.ConclusionsLiposome functionalization with LTL promises to broaden the therapeutic potential of liposomal doxorubicin treatment, decreasing non-specific toxicity.General significanceDoxorubicin-LTL functionalized liposomes promise to be useful in the development of new cancer chemotherapy protocols.     

Comparison of Conventional Chemotherapy,Stealth Liposomes and Temperature-Sensitive Liposomes in a Mathematical Model

Various liposomal drug carriers have been developed to overcome short plasma half-life and toxicity related side effects of chemotherapeutic agents. We developed a mathematical model to compare different liposome formulations of doxorubicin (DOX): conventional chemotherapy (Free-DOX), Stealth liposomes (Stealth-DOX), temperature sensitive liposomes (TSL) with intra-vascular triggered release (TSL-i), and TSL with extra-vascular triggered release (TSL-e). All formulations were administered as bolus at a dose of 9 mg/kg. For TSL, we assumed locally triggered release due to hyperthermia for 30 min. Drug concentrations were determined in systemic plasma, aggregate body tissue, cardiac tissue, tumor plasma, tumor interstitial space, and tumor cells. All compartments were assumed perfectly mixed, and represented by ordinary differential equations. Contribution of liposomal extravasation was negligible in the case of TSL-i, but was the major delivery mechanism for Stealth-DOX and for TSL-e. The dominant delivery mechanism for TSL-i was release within the tumor plasma compartment with subsequent tissue- and cell uptake of released DOX. Maximum intracellular tumor drug concentrations for Free-DOX, Stealth-DOX, TSL-i, and TSL-e were 3.4, 0.4, 100.6, and 15.9 µg/g, respectively. TSL-i and TSL-e allowed for high local tumor drug concentrations with reduced systemic exposure compared to Free-DOX. While Stealth-DOX resulted in high tumor tissue concentrations compared to Free-DOX, only a small fraction was bioavailable, resulting in little cellular uptake. Consistent with clinical data, Stealth-DOX resulted in similar tumor intracellular concentrations as Free-DOX, but with reduced systemic exposure. Optimal release time constants for maximum cellular uptake for Stealth-DOX, TSL-e, and TSL-i were 45 min, 11 min, and <3 s, respectively. Optimal release time constants were shorter for MDR cells, with ∼4 min for Stealth-DOX and for TSL-e. Tissue concentrations correlated well quantitatively with a prior in-vivo study. Mathematical models may thus allow optimization of drug delivery systems to achieve a better therapeutic index.     

Therapeutically optimized rates of drug release can be achieved by varying the drug-to-lipid ratio in liposomal vincristine formulations

The anti-tumor efficacy of liposomal formulations of cell cycle dependent anticancer drugs is critically dependent on the rates at which the drugs are released from the liposomes. Previous work on liposomal formulations of vincristine have shown increasing efficacy for formulations with progressively slower release rates. Recent work has also shown that liposomal formulations of vincristine with higher drug-to-lipid (D/L) ratios exhibit reduced release rates. In this work, the effects of very high D/L ratios on vincristine release rates are investigated, and the antitumor efficacy of these formulations characterized in human xenograft tumor models. It is shown that the half-times (T(1/2)) for vincristine release from egg sphingomyelin/cholesterol liposomes in vivo can be adjusted from T(1/2) = 6.1 h for a formulation with a D/L of 0.025 (wt/wt) to T(1/2) = 117 h (extrapolated) for a formulation with a D/L ratio of 0.6 (wt/wt). The increase in drug retention at the higher D/L ratios appears to be related to the presence of drug precipitates in the liposomes. Variations in the D/L ratio did not affect the circulation lifetimes of the liposomal vincristine formulations. The relationship between drug release rates and anti-tumor efficacy was evaluated using a MX-1 human mammary tumor model. It was found that the antitumor activity of the liposomal vincristine formulations increased as D/L ratio increased from 0.025 to 0.1 (wt/wt) (T(1/2) = 6.1-15.6 h respectively) but decreased at higher D/L ratios (D/L = 0.6, wt/wt) (T(1/2) = 117 h). Free vincristine exhibited the lowest activity of all formulations examined. These results demonstrate that varying the D/L ratio provides a powerful method for regulating drug release and allows the generation of liposomal formulations of vincristine with therapeutically optimized drug release rates.     

The Use of Transmembrane pH Gradient-Driven Drug Encapsulation in the Pharmacodynamic Evaluation of Liposomal Doxorubicin

Abstract

The toxicity and efficacy properties of doxorubicin entrapped inside liposomes are sensitive to the physical characteristics of the vesicle carrier system. Studies addressing such relationships must use preparation procedures with the ability to independently vary vesicle size, lipid composition and drug to lipid ratio while maintaining high trapping efficiencies. The transmembrane pH gradient-driven encapsulation technique allows such liposomal doxorubicin formulations to be prepared. Pharmacokinetic, toxicology and antitumour studies with these systems have revealed several important relationships between liposome physical properties and biological activity. The acute toxicity of liposomal doxorubicin is related primarily to the ability of the liposomes to retain doxorubicin after administration. Including cholesterol and increasing the degree of acyl chain saturation of the phospholipid component in the liposomes significantly decreases drug leakage in the blood, reduces cardiac tissue accumulation of doxorubicin and results in increased LD₅₀ values. In contrast, the efficacy of liposomal doxorubicin is most influenced by liposome size. Specifically, liposomes with a diameter of approximately 100 nm or less exhibit enhanced circulation lifetimes and antitumour activity. While these relationships appear to be rather straightforward, there exist anomalies which suggest that a more thorough evaluation of liposomal doxorubicin pharmacokinetics may be required in order to fully understand its mechanism of action. A key feature in this regard is the ability to differentiate between non-encapsulated and liposome encapsulated doxorubicin pools in the circulation as well as in tumours and normal tissues. This represents a major challenge that must be addressed if significant advances in the design of more effective liposomal doxorubicin formulations are to be achieved.     

Synthesis of a Lipid Derivative of the Antitumor Agent Methotrexate

A lipophilic methotrexate prodrug capable of incorporation into membranes of carrier liposomes was synthesized. The conjugate consists of a lipophilic rac-1,2-dioleoylglycerol anchor connected to methotrexate through a Ala–N-carbonylmethylene linker, which should be located in the polar region of the lipid bilayer. The ester bond between the hydrophilic linker and the antitumor agent can be hydrolyzed by intracellular esterases. The liposomal formulation of the prodrug exhibited a cytotoxic activity in vitro.     

The influence of carbohydrate ligands on the cytotoxicity of liposomes bearing a methotrexate-diglyceride conjugate in human acute leukemia cell cultures

The efficiency of the chemotherapeutic agent methotrexate (MTX) in cancer treatment is limited by the frequent development of the drug resistance of tumor cells. We had previously shown in vitro using human acute leukemia cells with various sensitivity to MTX (T-lymphoblastic CCRF-CEM line and resistant CEM/MTX subline) that MTX incorporation into liposomes in the form of a lipophilic prodrug, diglyceride conjugate (MTX-DG), allows for the overcoming of cell resistance due to the impaired active transmembrane transport. In this work, we have studied the profile of binding with carbohydrates of the cell lines mentioned using carbohydrate fluorescent probes (poly(acryl amide) conjugates). Lipophilic conjugates of tetrasaccharide SiaLe^X, 6′-HSO₃LacNAc, and also inactive pentaol for incorporation into liposomes, have been synthesized. The cytotoxicity of MTX-DG liposomes equipped with the SiaLe_X ligand toward the sensitive CCRF-CEM cell culture was demonstrated to be 3.5 times higher than that of MTX-DG liposomes bearing the control inactive pentaol. The activity of MTX liposomes bearing 6′-HSO₃LacNAc toward resistant CEM/MTX was 1.6-fold increased. The use of carbohydrate ligands as molecular addresses for drug-carrying liposomes as a potential method of treating heterogeneous tumor tissue is discussed.