Characterization and in vitro evaluation of spherulites as sequestering vesicles with potential application in drug detoxification

The aim of the present investigation was to prepare and characterize lecithin spherulites as parenteral drug sequestering agents with potential application in the treatment of drug overdose and chemical poisoning. The spherulites (∼ 200 nm) obtained by controlled hydration and shearing of lipid-alcohol mixtures, revealed unexpected differences in the physical properties of the bilayer when compared to liposomes. Differential scanning calorimetry, 31-phosphorus nuclear magnetic resonance, and pH-sensitive pyranine steady-state fluorescence studies indicated that although spherulites retained the typical bilayer conformation, the arrangement of the phospholipid molecules was perturbed relative to native liposome bilayer. The loosened packing of the phospholipids in bilayers was strongly supported by the relative ease with which spherulites lost the established pH-gradient. This permeability problem was overcome via incorporation of cholesterol in the bilayer. Subsequently, albumin/buffer components were encapsulated in these spherulites and the drug sequestration potential for detoxification application was examined. Citrate pH-gradient spherulites accumulated 75% of external haloperidol while those loaded with ∼ 20% (w/w) albumin were able to take up 45% of haloperidol and 91-95% of taxanes (docetaxel and paclitaxel). In cytotoxicity studies, the competitive internalization of docetaxel by albumin-loaded spherulites resulted in an increase of the IC₅₀ value for the free drug. Thus, the spherulite technology could be a versatile approach for actively sequestering toxins in the blood and for reducing the adverse effects by altering the pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of overdosed drugs.