Lysosome-targeted octadecyl-rhodamine B-liposomes enhance lysosomal accumulation of glucocerebrosidase in Gaucher's cells in vitro.

AIM: We hypothesized that liposomes modified with lysosomotropic octadecyl-rhodamine B (Rh) and loaded with therapeutic glucocerebroside velaglucerase alfa (VPRIV™) will improve lysosomal delivery of the enzyme into Gaucher's cells. MATERIALS & METHODS: Confocal microscopy and flow cytometry were used to evaluate the ability of Rh-modified liposomes loaded with VPRIV to improve the lysosomal targeting in monocyte-derived macrophages and Gaucher's fibroblasts. RESULTS: Confocal microscopy demonstrated that Rh-modified liposomes localized primarily in the lysosomes. As confirmed by flow cytometry using specific substrate 5-(pentafluorobenzoylamino)fluorescein diglucoside, intralysosomal accumulation of VPRIV in the cells treated with Rh-modified liposomes was significantly increased (up to 68%) relative to the cells treated with plain liposomes or free VPRIV. CONCLUSION: Rh-modified lysosomotropic liposomes can improve lysosomal accumulation of liposomal enzymes both in nonphagocytic Gaucher's fibroblasts and phagocytic monocyte-derived macrophages.

Screening and optimization of ligand conjugates for lysosomal targeting.

The use of lysosome-targeted liposomes may significantly improve the delivery of therapeutic enzymes and chaperones into lysosomes for the treatment of lysosomal storage disorders. The aim of this research was to synthesize new potentially lysosomotropic ligands on a base of Neutral Red and rhodamine B and to study their ability to enhance specific lysosomal delivery of surface-modified liposomes loaded with a model compound, fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran (FD). The delivery of these liposomes and their content to lysosomes in HeLa cells was investigated by confocal immunofluorescent microscopy, subcellular fractionation, and flow cytometry. Confocal microscopy demonstrated that liposomes modified with derivatives of rhodamine B provide a good rate of colocalization with the specific lysosomal markers. The comparison of fluorescence of FD in lysosomes isolated by subcellular fractionation also showed that the efficiency of lysosomal delivery of the liposomal load by liposomes modified with some of synthesized ligands was significantly higher compared to that with plain liposomes. These results were additionally confirmed by flow cytometry of the intact cells treated with liposomes loaded with 5-dodecanoylaminofluorescein di-ß-d-galactopyranoside, a specific substrate for the intralysosomal ß-galactosidase, using a number of cell lines, including macrophages with induced phenotype of lysosomal enzyme deficiency; two of the synthesized ligands-rhodamine B DSPE-PEG(2k)-amide and 6-(3-(DSPE-PEG(2k))-thioureido) rhodamine B-demonstrated enhanced lysosomal delivery, in some cases, higher than that for commercially available rhodamine B octadecyl ester, with the best results (the enhancement of the lysosomal delivery up to 75% greater in comparison to plain liposomes) shown for the cells with induced lysosomal enzyme deficiency phenotype. Use of liposomes modified with rhodamine B derivatives may be advantageous for the development of drug delivery systems for the treatment of lysosome-associated disorders.

A HPLC method for the quantitative determination of N-(2-hydroxy-5-nitrophenylcarbamothioyl)-3,5-dimethylbenzamide in biological samples.

A sensitive and simple HPLC method was developed for the determination of a novel compound, a potential anti-cancer drug, N-(2-hydroxy-5-nitrophenylcarbamothioyl)-3,5-dimethylbenzamide (DM-PIT-1), a member of the new structural class of non-phosphoinositide small molecule antagonist of phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate-pleckstrin-homology domain interactions, in mouse plasma and tumor tissue homogenates. The chromatographic separation of DM-PIT-1 was achieved on C18 column using isocratic elution with acetonitrile-water (70:30) containing 0.1% formic acid (v/v). DM-PIT-1 was detected by UV absorbance at 320 nm and confirmed by LC-MS. The extraction of the DM-PIT-1 from the plasma and tumor tissue with methylene chloride resulted in its high recovery (70-80%). HPLC calibration curves for DM-PIT-1 based on the extracts from the mouse plasma and tumor tissue samples were linear over a broad concentration range of 0.25-20 µg/ml/g, with intra/inter-day accuracy of 95% and the precision of variation below 10%. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.1 ng and 0.2 ng, respectively. The described method was successfully applied to study the pharmacokinetics of the DM-PIT-1 following the parenteral injections of DM-PIT-1 entrapped in 1,2-disteratoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[methoxy(polyethylene-glycol)-2000] (PEG-PE) micelles.

Targeting of lysosomes by liposomes modified with octadecyl-rhodamine B.

The use of lysosome-targeted liposomes may significantly improve a delivery of therapeutic enzymes into lysosomes for the treatment of lysosome-associated diseases. The aim of this research was to achieve a specific intracellular targeting of lysosomes, by using liposomes modified with the lysosomotropic octadecyl-rhodamine B (RhB) and loaded with a model compound, fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran (FD). Plain and RhB-modified liposomes were prepared by hydration of lipid films and loaded with FD or with 5-dodecanoylaminofluorescein di-ß-d-galactopyranoside (C(12)FDG), a specific substrate for the intralysosomal ß-galactosidase. The delivery of these liposomes and their content to lysosomes in HeLa cells was investigated by confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, and subcellular fractionation. Confocal microscopy demonstrated that RhB-liposomes co-localize well with the specific lysosomal markers, unlike plain liposomes. The comparison of the FITC fluorescence of the lysosomes isolated by subcellular fractionation also showed that the efficiency of FD delivery into lysosomes by RhB-modified liposomes was significantly higher compared with plain liposomes. These results were additionally confirmed by the flow cytometry of the intact cells treated with C(12)FDG-loaded liposomes that also demonstrated increased lysosomal targeting by RhB-modified liposomes. The modification of the liposomal surface with a lysosomotropic ligand, such as octadecyl-RhB, can significantly increase the delivery of liposomal loads to lysosomes.

In vitro cytotoxicity of novel pro-apoptotic agent DM-PIT-1 in PEG-PE-based micelles alone and in combination with TRAIL.

The purpose of this study was to develope and characterize a micellar formulations of N-{[(2-hydroxy-5- nitrophenyl)amino]carbonothioyl}-3,5-dimethylbenzamide (DM-PIT-1)-a new small molecule non-lipid antagonist of phopshotidylinositol-3.4.5-triphopshate and inhibitor of the PI3-kinase pathway. Micelle-forming PEG(2000)-PE was used to solubilize DM-PIT-1. To improve the specificity of the micellar DM-PIT-1, cancer-targeting anti-nucleosomal mAb2C5 antibodies as well as Tumor necrosis factor- Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand (TRAIL) were attached to the surface of polymeric micelles. DM-PIT-1 was effectively incorporated (> 70%) into 14-16 nm micelles, which had a negative surface zeta potential of 4-5 mV. Micellar DM-PIT-1 demonstrated high in vitro cytotoxicity against various cancer cells. An improved potency of the dual-activity DM-PIT-1/TRAIL combination nanoparticles in inducing death of TRAIL-resistant cancer cells was shown. Efficacy of the TRAIL therapy was enhanced by combining it with the 2C5 antibody cancer-targeted micellar form of DM-PIT-1. In conclusion, DM-PIT-1 micellar preparations can be used for targeted combination therapy against TRAIL-resistant cancers.