Sequential administration of PEG-Span 80 niosome enhances anti-tumor effect of doxorubicin-containing PEG liposome

To improve the anti-tumor effect of polyethylene glycol-modified liposome containing doxorubicin (DOX-PEG liposome), the effect of sequential administration of PEG-Span 80 niosome was investigated for Colon-26 cancer cells (C26)-bearing mice. The concept of the current study is as follows: Since both particulates would be accumulated in the tumor tissue due to the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect, PEG-Span 80 niosome, mainly composed of synthetic surfactant (Span 80), would interact with DOX-PEG liposome and be a trigger to induce the release of DOX from the liposome within the tumor tissue, leading to the improvement of anti-tumor effect of DOX-PEG liposome. To find out an adequate liposome for this strategy, several PEG liposomes with different compositions were examined in terms of drug release enhancement and it was found that PEG-Span80 niosome could significantly enhance the release of calcein and DOX from a PEG liposome composed of 90% hydrogenated soybean phosphatidylcholine (HSPC) and 10% cholesterol. The sequential administration of PEG-Span 80 niosome at 24 or 48 h after dosing of DOX-PEG liposome provided a higher anti-tumor effect than the single dose of DOX-PEG liposome in the C26-bearing mice. Particularly, the 24 h-later dosing of PEG-Span 80 niosome has been found to be more effective than the 48 h-later dosing. It was also confirmed that the coexistence of PEG-Span 80 niosome with DOX-PEG liposome in 50% serum or in 50% supernatant of tumor tissue homogenate significantly increased DOX release from PEG liposome, suggesting that DOX release from DOX-PEG liposome within tumor tissue would be enhanced via the interaction with PEG-Span 80 niosome. This strategy would lead to the safer and more inexpensive chemotherapy, since it could make it possible to provide the better anti-tumor effect by utilizing the lower dose of DOX.