Magnetically Responsive Drug Delivery Using Doxorubicin and Iron Oxide Nanoparticle-Incorporated Lipocomplexes

Bacterial iron oxide (IO) nanoparticles and doxorubicin (DOX) were complexed with lipid materials (magnetic lipocomplexes) for stimuli-sensitive drug targeting. DOX-incorporated magnetic lipocomplexes showed spherical core-shell structure with small diameter less than 300 nm, i.e., iron oxide nanoparticles were located in the inner-core of the lipocomplexes and these were surrounded by lipid bilayer. The complexe sizes were around 100 nm~300 nm while IO nanoparticle itself was smaller than 100 nm. DOX-incorporated magnetic lipocomplexes showed increased anticancer activity against CT26 mouse colorectal carcinoma cells. Stimulation with magnetic field resulted in higher cellular uptake ratio and suppression of cell growth. In vivo tumor imaging study using CT26-bearing tumor model proved that the magnet-sensitive delivery of DOX-incorporated magnetic lipocomplexes specifically suppressed the tumor growth. Magnetic lipocomplexes showed enhanced anticancer activity due to the magnet-sensitive drug delivery properties in vitro and in vivo.