Gas-forming liposomes prepared using a liposomal magnetoporation method

In this study, we report a gas-forming drug carrier engineered using the liposomal magnetoporation method. The liposomes that were magnetoporated under a magnetic shear stress possessed an opened lipid bilayer hole. A photosensitizing model drug (chlorin e6: Ce6) and 1H-1H-2H-perfluoro-1-hexene (PFH, as a volatile gas-forming agent) were efficiently loaded into the opened holes of the magnetoporated liposomes. PFH in the liposomes is vaporized at 50°C and can initiate liposome destabilization. The experimental results demonstrated that the liposomes were destabilized at 50°C efficiently released Ce6 and enhanced Ce6-mediated phototoxicity against KB tumor cells. As a result, these liposomes induced a significantly increased in vitro and in vivo photodynamic tumor inhibition.