Development of a bone-targeted pH-sensitive liposomal formulation containing doxorubicin: physicochemical characterization, cytotoxicity, and biodistribution evaluation in a mouse model of bone metastasis

• Published in: International journal of nanomedicine 2016-08, Vol.2016 (default), p.3737-3751
• Main Authors: Ferreira DS, Faria SD, Lopes SCA, Teixeira CS, Malachias A, Magalhães-Paniago R, de Souza Filho JD, Oliveira BL, Guimarães AR, Caravan P, Ferreira LAM, Alves RJ, Oliveira MC
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: bisphosphonates; bone tumor treatment; Hydroxyapatite-targeted formulations; pH-responsive nanostructures
• ISSN: 1178-2013

Diêgo dos Santos Ferreira,1,2 Samilla Dornelas Faria,1 Sávia Caldeira de Araújo Lopes,1 Cláudia Salviano Teixeira,1 Angelo Malachias,3 Rogério Magalhães-Paniago,3 José Dias de Souza Filho,4 Bruno Luis de Jesus Pinto Oliveira,2 Alexander Ramos Guimarães,2 Peter Caravan,2 Lucas Antônio Miranda Ferreira,1 Ricardo José Alves,1 Mônica Cristina Oliveira1 1Department of Pharmaceutical Products, Faculty of Pharmacy,Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil; 2Athinoula A Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; 3Department of Physics, 4Department of Chemistry, Institute of Exact Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil Background: Despite recent advances in cancer therapy, the treatment of bone tumors remains a major challenge. A possible underlying hypothesis, limitation, and unmet need may be the inability of therapeutics to penetrate into dense bone mineral, which can lead to poor efficacy and high toxicity, due to drug uptake in healthy organs. The development of nanostructured formulations with high affinity for bone could be an interesting approach to overcome these challenges.Purpose: To develop a liposomal formulation with high affinity for hydroxyapatite and the ability to release doxorubicin (DOX) in an acidic environment for future application as a tool for treatment of bone metastases.Materials and methods: Liposomes were prepared by thin-film lipid hydration, followed by extrusion and the sulfate gradient-encapsulation method. Liposomes were characterized by average diameter, ζ-potential, encapsulation percentage, X-ray diffraction, and differential scanning calorimetry. Release studies in buffer (pH 7.4 or 5), plasma, and serum, as well as hydroxyapatite-affinity in vitro analysis were performed. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by MTT assay against the MDA-MB-231 cell line, and biodistribution was assessed in bone metastasis-bearing animals.Results: Liposomes presented suitable diameter (~170 nm), DOX encapsulation (~2 mg/mL), controlled release, and good plasma and serum stability. The existence of interactions between DOX and the lipid bilayer was proved through differential scanning calorimetry and small-angle X-ray scattering. DOX release was faster when the pH was in the range of a tumor than at physiological pH. The bone-targeted formulation showed a strong affinity for hydroxyapatite. The encapsulation of DOX did not