Stability of protein-encapsulating DRV liposomes after freeze-drying: A study with BSA and t-PA

Stability of protein-encapsulating DRV (dried-rehydrated vesicle) liposomes is evaluated after freeze-drying vesicles in presence (or not) of trehalose. Two proteins, bovine serum albumin (BSA) and tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA), are used, and protein-encapsulating liposomes with different lipid compositions are prepared by DRV technique. Encapsulation efficiencies are calculated, after measuring BSA with a fluorescence technique and t-PA's amidolytic activity toward a chromogenic substrate.Experimental results show that encapsulation of BSA in vesicles ranges between 35 and 53% of the protein and is only slightly affected by lipid composition. For t-PA, entrapment efficiencies are lower, ranging between 2 and 16%, while lipid composition has substantial effect on entrapment (cholesterol inclusion is very important). After freeze-drying, some lipid compositions remain stable, retaining most of initially entrapped proteins, while others do not, but they may be stabilized by trehalose. In the case of BSA, liposome behavior cannot be explained based on lipid membrane rigidity (more rigid = more stable). This may be connected with previously demonstrated interactions of BSA with membranes. Oppositely, t-PA behavior is more predictable, meaning that the lipid composition selected for the specific therapeutic application determines the need for cryoprotectant addition before freeze-drying t-PA containing DRV liposomes, perhaps due to the fact that under conditions applying minimum or no interactions between t-PA and lipid membranes occur.Thereby, interactions between proteins and membranes determine not only the encapsulation efficiency but also the need for cryopreservation of liposomal protein formulations.