Sonosensitive dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine-containing liposomes with prolonged blood circulation time of doxorubicin

Abstract

Ultrasound sensitive (sonosensitive liposomes) are drug delivery systems designed for releasing their drug load upon exposure to ultrasound (US). Inclusion of dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) in liposome membranes was previously shown to induce sonosensitivity. For efficient US mediated drug delivery to solid tumours, a long blood circulation time of the liposomal drug providing high tumour uptake is required. In this study, blood pharmacokinetics of DOPE-based liposomal doxorubicin (DXR) were evaluated in mice. A markedly faster blood clearance of DXR was observed for DOPE-rich liposomes compared to Caelyx! (standard liposomal DXR). Subsequently, liposome membrane composition was altered to improve drug retention in the bloodstream, while maintaining sonosensitivity. Formulations with reduced blood clearance of DXR were obtained by reducing the content of DOPE from 62 to 32 or 25 mol%. These formulations showed long blood circulation time, as approximately 20% of the administered DXR dose was present in the bloodstream 24 h after intravenous injection. The reduction in liposomal DOPE content did not significantly reduce US mediated DXR release in vitro, indicating that DOPE is a potent modulator to sonosensitivity. The novel liposome formulations, containing moderate amounts of DOPE, displayed similar blood pharmacokinetic profiles as standard liposomal DXR, but a markedly improved sonosensitivity.