Encapsulation into Stealth Liposomes Enhances the Antitumor Action of Recombinant Cratylia mollis Lectin Expressed in Escherichia coli.

This study evaluated the in vivo antitumor potential of the recombinant lectin from seeds of Cratylia mollis (rCramoll) expressed in Escherichia coli, free or encapsulated in stealth liposomes, using mice transplanted with sarcoma 180. rCramoll-loaded stealth liposomes (rCramoll-lipo) were formulated by hydration of the lipid film followed by cycles of freezing and thawing, and about 60% of rCramoll was encapsulated. This novel preparation showed particle size, polydispersity index, and pH suitable for the evaluation of antitumor activity in vivo. Tumor growth inhibition rates were 59% for rCramoll and 75% for rCramoll-lipo. Histopathological analysis of the experimental groups showed that both free and encapsulated lectin caused no changes in the kidneys of animals. Hematological analysis revealed that treatment with rCramoll-lipo significantly increased leukocyte concentration when compared with the untreated and rCramoll group. In conclusion, the encapsulation of rCramoll in stealth liposomes improves its antitumor activity without substantial toxicity; this approach was more successful than the previous results reported for pCramoll loaded into conventional liposomes. At this point, a crucial difference between the antitumor action of free and encapsulated rCramoll was found along with their effects on immune cells. Further investigations are required to elucidate the mechanism(s) of the antitumor effect induced by rCramoll.

Molecular modeling and cytotoxicity of diffractaic acid: HP-ß-CD inclusion complex encapsulated in microspheres.

In this pioneer study, 2-hydroxypropyl-ß-cyclodextrin (HP-ß-CD) was used to improve the solubility of the diffractaic acid (DA) via inclusion complex (DA:HP-ß-CD). Subsequently, DA:HP-ß-CD was incorporated into poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) microspheres (DA:HP-ß-CD-MS). Microspheres containing DA (DA-MS) or DA:HP-ß-CD (DA:HP-ß-CD-MS) were prepared using the multiple W/O/W emulsion-solvent evaporation technique. The phase-solubility diagram of DA in HP-ß-CD (10-50mM) showed an AL type curve with a stability constant K1:1=821M-1. 1H NMR, FTIR, X-ray diffraction and thermal analysis showed changes in the molecular environment of DA in DA:HP-ß-CD. The molecular modeling approach suggests a guest-host complex formation between the carboxylic moiety of both DA and the host (HP-ß-CD). The mean particle size of the microspheres were ∅DA-MS=5.23±1.65µm and ∅DA:HP-ß-CD-MS=4.11±1.39µm, respectively. The zeta potential values of the microspheres were ζDA-MS=-7.85±0.32mV and ζDA:HP-ß-CD-MS=-6.93±0.46mV. Moreover, the encapsulation of DA:HP-ß-CD into microspheres resulted in a more slower release (k2=0.042±0.001; r2=0.996) when compared with DA-MS (k2=0.183±0.005; r2=0.996). The encapsulation of DA or DA:HP-ß-CD into microspheres reduced the cytotoxicity of DA (IC50=43.29µM) against Vero cells (IC50 of DA-MS=108.48µM and IC50 of DA:HP-ß-CD-MS=142.63µM).