Liposomes encapsulating artificial cytosol as drug delivery system

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Cell Biology
• Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Fabricating cell models with artificial cytosol presents significant challenges.
• Developing realistic artificial cytosol is crucial for advanced biological research and drug delivery applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To construct a functional artificial cell model with a cytosol-mimicking component.
• To evaluate the potential of this artificial cell model as a drug carrier.

Main Methods:

• An electroformation method was employed to create the artificial cell model.
• Agarose and sucrose were utilized to formulate the artificial cytosol, optimizing viscosity and phase transition temperature.
• Large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) composed of DSPC and cholesterol served as the cell compartments.
• Rhodamine release experiments assessed the drug release profile.
• Doxorubicin loading and its efficacy on HeLa cells were evaluated.

Main Results:

• The optimal mass ratio of agarose-sucrose (1:9) closely matched natural cytosol viscosity.
• The agarose-sucrose@LUVs exhibited a unique release profile suitable for drug delivery.
• Doxorubicin-loaded artificial cells showed a 28.7-fold increase in inhibition efficiency against HeLa cells compared to free doxorubicin.

Conclusions:

• The developed artificial cell model effectively mimics natural cytosol properties.
• Agarose-sucrose@LUVs demonstrate significant potential as an efficient drug delivery system.
• This artificial cell model enhances the therapeutic efficacy of loaded drugs, offering a promising platform for cancer treatment.