Preparation of pH-sensitive anionic liposomes designed for drug delivery system (DDS) application

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background:

• Liposomes are versatile drug delivery systems.
• Controlling liposome stability and release profiles is crucial for effective drug delivery.
• Anionic components can influence liposome behavior in response to environmental stimuli.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop novel pH-sensitive anionic liposomes for targeted drug release.
• To investigate the stability and release characteristics of these liposomes at varying pH levels.
• To explore the impact of anionic components on liposome performance for drug delivery applications.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of anionic liposomes using dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate (Tween 80).
• Incorporation of various anionic bilayer membrane components, including sodium oleate (SO), dimyristoylphosphatidylserine (DMPS), and sodium β-sitosterol sulfate (SS).
• Evaluation of liposome dispersion stability, membrane fluidity, and temporal stability at neutral and acidic pH.

Main Results:

• The anionic liposomes exhibited high dispersion stability at neutral pH and enhanced membrane fluidity in acidic conditions.
• Liposome stability was found to be dependent on the molecular structure, pKa value, and concentration of the incorporated anionic component.
• The developed liposomes demonstrated superior temporal stability compared to conventional DMPC/DPPC liposomes.

Conclusions:

• pH-sensitive anionic liposomes can be designed for controlled release applications.
• Tunable liposomal stability in a pH-dependent manner is achievable by selecting appropriate anionic components.
• These findings support the development of advanced drug delivery systems with enhanced performance.