Improved DNA: liposome complexes for increased systemic delivery and gene expression.

To increase cationic liposome-mediated intravenous DNA delivery extruded DOTAP:cholesterol liposomes were used to form complexes with DNA, resulting in enhanced expression of the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene in most tissues examined. The DNA:liposome ratio, and mild sonication, heating, and extrusion steps used for liposome preparation were crucial for improved systemic delivery. Size fractionation studies showed that maximal gene expression was produced by a homogeneous population of DNA:liposome complexes between 200 to 450 nm in size. Cryo-electron microscopy examination demonstrates that the DNA:liposome complexes have a novel morphology, and that the DNA is condensed on the interior of invaginated liposomes between two lipid bilayers. This structure could account for the high efficiency of gene delivery in vivo and for the broad tissue distribution of the DNA:liposome complexes. Ligands can be placed on the outside of this structure to provide for targeted gene delivery.

Pharmacokinetics and therapeutics of sterically stabilized liposomes in mice bearing C-26 colon carcinoma.

Three different liposome types were compared for blood clearance and tissue uptake in mice bearing C-26 colon carcinoma growing either s.c. or in liver. Therapeutic experiments were performed with the liposome preparation showing the highest tumor uptake. Liposomes were composed of solid-phase phosphatidylcholine, either distearoyl phosphatidylcholine or hydrogenated soy phosphatidylcholine, and cholesterol at a 2:1 molar ratio. These liposomes were compared with similar but sterically stabilized liposomes (SL) which, in addition, contained either GM1 ganglioside or phosphatidylethanolamine derivatized with poly(ethylene glycol). Pharmacokinetic analysis of drug disposition was based on the areas under the curve for liposome-entrapped 67Ga uptake per gram of tissue up to 96 h following i.v. injection. The highest tissue area under the curve values with both liposome types were obtained in spleen, liver, and tumor. However, the sterically stabilized liposomes gave an area under the curve value 2-3-fold higher in the s.c. tumor and about 2-fold lower in liver and spleen. The therapeutic efficacy of doxorubicin (DOX) and epirubicin (EPI) encapsulated in poly(ethylene glycol)-derivatized phosphatidylethanolamine-containing liposomes was compared with that of free drug at two doses, 6 and 9 (or 10) mg/kg animal weight. Liposomes containing drug were injected either as a single dose, at different times following tumor implantation, or as three weekly doses starting 10 days after implantation. When injected as a single dose, liposome-encapsulated DOX had the maximal effect on tumor growth when injected 6 to 9 days after tumor implantation. When injected as three weekly doses, with treatment starting with a delay of 10 days, tumors which had grown to a size of approximately 0.05-0.1 cm3 regressed in groups of animals treated with either liposome-encapsulated drug (SL-DOX or SL-EPI) but continued to grow unabated in untreated mice and in mice receiving either of the free drugs. Survival of tumor-bearing animals treated with either SL-EPI or SL-DOX was significantly prolonged. Animals receiving saline, EPI, or DOX survived a mean of 50, 62, and 49 days, respectively, following tumor implantation. Eight of nine and nine of 10 animals receiving 6 and 9 mg/kg SL-EPI, respectively, survived to 120 days. Ten of 10 animals in both groups receiving 6 and 9 mg/kg SL-DOX survived to 120 days. None of the surviving animals in the SL-EPI and SL-DOX group showed any histological evidence of tumor at the conclusion of the experiment (120 days).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Arrest of human lung tumor xenograft growth in severe combined immunodeficient mice using doxorubicin encapsulated in sterically stabilized liposomes.

Incorporation of polyethylene glycol-derivatized phospholipids into liposomes results in carriers that can enhance the therapeutic efficacy of encapsulated drugs by imparting the ability to evade the reticuloendothelial system and remain in the circulation for prolonged periods. In this study, doxorubicin encapsulated in these sterically stabilized liposomes (S-DOX) is shown to completely arrest the growth of human lung tumor xenografts in severe combined immunodeficient (scid) mice. Doxorubicin administered at equivalent doses as free drug or encapsulated into conventional liposomes was ineffective at completely arresting the growth of this human tumor, although a decrease in tumor growth rate compared to untreated controls was observed. Scid mice were found to be significantly more susceptible to the toxic effects of doxorubicin than were immunocompetent C.B-17 control mice, a characteristic that is likely to result from the deficit in DNA repair mechanisms previously identified in scid mice. However, doxorubicin toxicity in scid mice could be minimized while maintaining the antitumor activity of doxorubicin encapsulated in sterically stabilized liposomes by administering the drug in multiple weekly injections at low doses. This report provides the first evidence that antitumor drugs delivered in sterically stabilized liposomes are more effective at arresting the growth of human tumors than are conventional delivery systems. In addition, the scid mouse is presented as a viable model in which to study novel chemotherapeutic approaches to the treatment of human cancer.

Sterically stabilized liposomes.

Many recent reports have demonstrated that rapid uptake of liposomes in vivo by cells of the mononuclear phagocytic system (MPS), which has restricted their therapeutic utility, can be overcome by incorporation of lipids derivatized with the hydrophilic polymer polyethylene glycol (PEG). The structure-function relationship of PEG-derivatized phosphatidylethanolamine (PEG-PE) has been examined by measurement of blood lifetime and tissue distribution in both mice and rats. The results are reviewed and contrasted with those from liposomes without PEG-PE or other surface modifications. With a PEG molecular weight in the range of 1000 to 5000, prolonged circulation and reduced MPS uptake is achieved. After 24 h, up to 35% of the injected dose remains in the blood and less than 10% is taken up by the two major organs of the MPS, liver and spleen, compared with 1% and up to 50%, respectively, for liposomes without PEG-PE. Other important advantages of PEG-PE have been identified: prolonged circulation is independent of liposome cholesterol content, degree of hydrocarbon chain saturation in either the PC or the PE lipid anchor, lipid dose, or addition of most other negatively charged lipids. This versatility in lipid composition and dose is important for controlling drug release in a liposome-based therapeutic agent. Steric stabilization has been proposed as a theoretical basis for the results and some initial results testing this hypothesis have been reported. A description of a theoretical model is presented here and evaluated with the data available. The results are compared with other particulate drug carriers and the range of potential applications are considered.

Repulsive interactions and mechanical stability of polymer-grafted lipid membranes.

Liposome membranes containing lipids with covalently attached poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG-lipid) are currently being developed as drug delivery systems. These, so called, 'Stealth' liposomes have a relatively long half life (approximately 1 day) in blood circulation and show an altered biodistribution in vivo. The extended lifetime appears to result from a steric stabilization of the liposome by the grafted polymer. In order to characterize the surface structures that promote steric stability in such polymer-grafted lipid bilayer systems, we have used X-ray diffraction to measure the structural organization and interbilayer repulsion for lipid/cholesterol (2:1) bilayers incorporating 4 mol% of a PEG-lipid in which the molecular weight of the PEG moiety was 1900 g/mol. At this concentration, applied pressure versus interbilayer distance relations showed that the grafted polymer moiety extended approximately 50 A from the lipid surface and gave rise to a strong, slowly decaying repulsive pressure between membranes that opposed their close approach. Also, the pressure vs. distance relations were only modestly altered by changing the ionic strength of the medium (1 mM NaCl and 100 mM NaCl). Therefore, even though the PEG-lipid headgroup bears a negative charge, the long range pressure cannot be due primarily to an electrostatic double layer pressure. Measurements of lipid bilayer elasticity using micropipet manipulation showed that PEG-lipid did not change the cohesive properties of lipid/cholesterol liposomes which was consistent with the X-ray structural data showing that the PEG-lipid did not change the normal structure of the bilayer interior. From these data we conclude that the repulsive barrier properties of lipid-grafted PEG polymer chains originate mainly from a steric pressure and that this simple polymer steric stabilization is the basis for the extended in vivo circulation times observed for polymer-grafted liposomes.

Size analysis of biological membrane vesicles by gel filtration, dynamic light scattering and electron microscopy.

Biological membrane vesicles are analysed in terms of size and size distribution using gel filtration on Sephacryl S-1000, electron microscopy and quasi-elastic light scattering. The agreement between the three methods is satisfactory particularly for homogeneous dispersions. Gel filtration on Sephacryl S-1000 is a quick and convenient method for the routine size analysis of membrane vesicles up to a diameter of about 250 nm.

Sterically stabilized liposomes: a hypothesis on the molecular origin of the extended circulation times.

Therapeutic applications of intravenously injected liposomes have been limited by their rapid clearance from the bloodstream and their uptake by the macrophage cells of the liver and spleen (RES). Recently, however, liposomes which substantially evade the rapid uptake by the RES have been introduced. Since these liposomes exhibit dramatically different pharmacokinetics and biodistribution, new therapeutic opportunities have appeared. These include enhanced efficacy of antineoplastic agents against tumors, sites of inflammation, and targeting ligand-coupled liposomes to extravascular targets. Despite extensive experimental work, the mechanism underlying the ability of liposomes to avoid the rapid uptake by the RES is still not fully understood. Our approach is an alternative to seeking the answers in complex differential interactions of liposomes with various components of blood. We believe that the effect can be easily explained, at least in qualitative terms, by the fundamental principles of colloid stability. In this communication, we propose that steric stabilization of liposomes is responsible for their prolonged circulation times. We propose that stabilization results from local surface concentration of highly hydrated groups that sterically inhibit both electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions of a variety of blood components at the liposome surface.

Transmembrane gradient driven phase transitions within vesicles: lessons for drug delivery.

Phase transitions in closed vesicles, i.e., microenvironments defined by the size of the vesicle, its contents, and permeability of its membrane are becoming increasingly important in several scientific disciplines including catalysis, growth of small crystals, cell function studies, and drug delivery. The membrane composed from lipid bilayer is in general impermeable to ions and larger hydrophilic ions. Ion transport can be regulated by ionophores while permeation of neutral and weakly hydrophobic molecules can be controlled by concentration gradients. Some weak acids or bases, however, can be transported through the membrane due to various gradients, such as electrical, ionic (pH) or specific salt (chemical potential) gradients. Upon permeation of appropriate species and reaction with the encapsulated species precipitation may occur in the vesicle interior. Alternatively, these molecules can also associate with the leaflets of the bilayer according to the transmembrane potential. Efficient liposomal therapeutics require high drug to lipid ratios and drug molecules should have, especially when associated with long circulating liposomes, low leakage rates. In this article we present very efficient encapsulation of two drugs via their intraliposomal precipitation, characterize the state of encapsulated drug within the liposome and try to fit the experimental data with a recently developed theoretical model. Nice agreement between a model which is based on chemical potential equilibration of membrane permeable species with experimental data was observed. The high loading efficiencies, however are only necessary but not sufficient condition for effective therapies. If adequate drug retention within liposomes, especially in the case of long-circulating ones, is not achieved, the therapeutic index decreases substantially. Anticancer drug doxorubicin precipitates in the liposome interior in a form of gel with low solubility product and practically does not leak out in blood circulation in the scale of days. With an antibiotic, ciprofloxacin, the high loading efficacy and test tube stability is not reproduced in in vitro plasma leakage assays and in vivo. We believe that the reasons are higher solubility product of precipitated drug in the liposome, larger fraction of neutral molecules due closer pK values of the drug with the pH conditions in the solutions and high membrane permeability of this molecule. High resolution cryoEM shows that encapsulated anticancer agent doxorubicin is precipitated in the form of bundles of parallel fibers while antibiotic ciprofloxacin shows globular precipitate. Doxorubicin gelatin also causes the change of vesicle shape.

Novel applications of liposomes.

Opinions of the usefulness of liposomes in various biotechnological applications range from unsubstantiated optimism to undeserved pessimism. This article reviews the background and development of liposomes, describes products that are commercially available and speculates optimistically about some future applications. The current deepening and widening of interest in liposomes in many scientific disciplines, and their application in medicine, immunology, diagnostics, cosmetics, ecology, cleansing and the food industry are promising novel breakthroughs and products.

Gelation of liposome interior. A novel method for drug encapsulation.

Liposomes can be loaded with weak acids and bases, which exist in solutions in equilibrium with membrane permeable uncharged form, using various gradients across their membranes. Because in some cases the estimated drug concentration in the loaded liposomes exceeds their aqueous solubility we investigated the physical state of the liposome encapsulated anticancer drug Doxorubicin. X-Ray diffraction, electron microscopy, and test tube solubility experiments have shown that upon encapsulation the drug molecules form a gel-like phase.

Sterically stabilized liposomes in cancer therapy and gene delivery.

The introduction of colloidally stable liposomes with low drug leakage rates resulted in a renaissance in liposome applications in cancer therapy. Furthermore, a platform of sterically stabilized liposomes also allows the construction of new generations of drug delivery vehicles. These include targeted liposomes and targeted nucleic acid delivery vehicles, based either on cationic sterically stabilized liposomes or pre-condensed DNA encapsulated in neutral or negatively charged liposomes.

New directions in liposome gene delivery.

The history of liposomes, progress in liposome gene delivery, and future directions are discussed. Specific characteristics of liposomes and DNA:liposome complexes have been identified that are essential for optimal delivery and gene expression. Of particular interest are the requirements for increased delivery and high levels of gene expression in vivo. At present, significant efforts are focused towards achieving specific delivery and gene expression in target organs and tissues.

Spontaneous vesiculation.

The thermodynamics of vesicle formation was analyzed by using the elastic bending energy approach. Several different possibilities of spontaneous vesiculation, due to soft bilayers, non-zero spontaneous curvature and Gaussian curvature, respectively, were presented and discussed. Intermediate structures in the closed vesicle-disklike mixed micelle phase transition could be either cup-like particles or open bilayers partially rolled into lipid tubules.

Liposome stability and formation: experimental parameters and theories on the size distribution.

The most important characteristics of liposomes, in addition to chemical composition and surface properties, are size distribution and lamellarity. Liposomes can be formed by many different preparation techniques, which according to the literature yield rather well defined vesicle preparations. In contrast to abundant information on the experimental procedures and preparation protocols the theoretical understanding of these processes is lacking. Only geometrical models of structural changes exist for few preparation procedures and size of the liposomes prepared by sonication and detergent depletion method were estimated using simple models. In this paper we first outline different theories on the stability of liposomes and their influence on the size distribution. In the experimental section we shall briefly present the importance of size distribution in experimental work and influence of various experimental parameters on the size distributions obtained.

Doxorubicin in sterically stabilized liposomes.

Improved liposome stability and drug retention significantly increase the anticancer activity of encapsulated doxorubicin (Doxil), enhancing the effectiveness of chemotherapy and potentially reducing its toxicity.

Mixed micelles in drug delivery.

Large disk-like mixed micelles composed of a drug and biological lipid are thermodynamically stable and represent a novel drug delivery system. Their unique physical properties are reflected in a significantly improved therapeutic index.

Modulation of interaction forces between bilayers exposing short-chained ethylene oxide headgroups.

The use of liposomes as drug delivery systems has been limited by their rapid clearance from circulation by the mononuclear phagocyte system. Recent studies have found that circulation times can be greatly enhanced by incorporating a small amount of modified lipids whose headgroups are derivatized with a bulky water soluble polymeric chain of poly ethylene oxide. We report here a systematic study using the Surface Forces Apparatus to measure directly the interactions between two phosphatidyl ethanolamine lipid bilayers, exposing this polymeric headgroup at different concentrations in the bilayer. We found that the force becomes repulsive at all separations and that the thickness of the steric barrier could be controlled easily by adjusting the concentration of the modified lipids. Equilibrium force profiles were measured that were reversible and largely insensitive to changes in electrolyte concentration and temperature. The results have enabled the Dolan and Edwards theory for the steric forces of low coverage polymer surfaces and the Alexander de Gennes theory for high coverage surfaces to be tested, and both were found to apply. We conclude that these simple theories can be used to model the interactions of surprisingly short segments and, hence, apply to such systems as lipids with bulky headgroups and liposomes containing a sterically stabilizing polymer.