Mechanistic study on toxicity of positively charged liposomes containing stearylamine to blood: use of carboxymethyl chitin to reduce toxicity

• Published in: Colloids and surfaces, B, Biointerfaces B, Biointerfaces, 1993-09, Vol.1 (4), p.213-219
• Main Authors: Nishiya, Takako, Lam, Robert Tai-Thinh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Carboxymethyl chitin; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fusion; Hemolysis; Liposome; Molecular biophysics; Stearylamine; Surface properties. Adsorption
• ISSN: 0927-7765; 1873-4367
• DOI: 10.1016/0927-7765(93)80021-P

Toxic effects have been reported for positively charged liposomes containing stearylamine (SA). In the present work, we have explored (i) fusion between SA liposomes and erythrocyte ghost (EG) membranes by resonance energy transfer assay, (ii) hemolysis induced by SA liposomes, and (iii) turbidity changes in native plasma on contact with SA liposomes, in the presence or absence of carboxymethyl chitin (CM-chitin). In the absence of CM-chitin, EG-SA liposome fusion, extents of hemolysis and turbidity changes in native plasma depended upon the concentration of SA. In the presence of CM-chitin, at a concentration of 10 −3 or 10 −2% ( w v ), EG-SA liposome fusion was inhibited. In EG-SA liposome fusion experiments, EG-SA liposome aggregation was observed in the absence of CM-chitin. However, in the presence of CM-chitin, SA liposome aggregation was observed. Extents of hemolysis and turbidity changes in native plasma induced by SA liposomes were reduced depending upon the CM-chitin concentration. These results indicate that association of SA liposome to CM-chitin reduces the propensity of SA liposomes to interact with blood components.