Efficient drug delivery of Paclitaxel glycoside: a novel solubility gradient encapsulation into liposomes coupled with immunoliposomes preparation

PLoS One. 2014 Sep 29;9(9):e107976. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0107976. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Although the encapsulation of paclitaxel into liposomes has been extensively studied, its significant hydrophobic and uncharged character has generated substantial difficulties concerning its efficient encapsulation into the inner water core of liposomes. We found that a more hydrophilic paclitaxel molecule, 7-glucosyloxyacetylpaclitaxel, retained tubulin polymerization stabilization activity. The hydrophilic nature of 7-glucosyloxyacetylpaclitaxel allowed its efficient encapsulation into the inner water core of liposomes, which was successfully accomplished using a remote loading method with a solubility gradient between 40% ethylene glycol and Cremophor EL/ethanol in PBS. Trastuzumab was then conjugated onto the surface of liposomes as immunoliposomes to selectively target human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2)-overexpressing cancer cells. In vitro cytotoxicity assays revealed that the immunoliposomes enhanced the toxicity of 7-glucosyloxyacetylpaclitaxel in HER2-overexpressing cancer cells and showed more rapid suppression of cell growth. The immunoliposomes strongly inhibited the tumor growth of HT-29 cells xenografted in nude mice. Notably, mice survived when treated with the immunoliposomes formulation, even when administered at a lethal dose of 7-glucosyloxyacetylpaclitaxel in vivo. This data successfully demonstrates immunoliposomes as a promising candidate for the efficient delivery of paclitaxel glycoside.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Drug Carriers
  • Female
  • Glycosides / administration & dosage*
  • HT29 Cells
  • Humans
  • Liposomes*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Paclitaxel / administration & dosage*
  • Paclitaxel / chemistry
  • Solubility

Substances

  • Drug Carriers
  • Glycosides
  • Liposomes
  • Paclitaxel

Grants and funding

This study was partly supported by Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research No. 23650598 (MS), 25242045 (MS), and 26640079 (MS); Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) Nos. 24510151 (T. Kasai) and 24501315 (AM) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (http://www.mext.go.jp); and from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (http://www.jsps.go.jp). This research was funded by a commercial company, Ensuiko Sugar Refining Co., Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan). Ensuiko Sugar Refining Co., Ltd. had a role in the study design. The other funders had no role in study design. All funders had no role in data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript in this study.