ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To develop and evaluate liposomal formulations prepared with an isolated mitochondrial fraction as a mitochondria-specific delivery vehicle. METHODS: Liposomes were prepared with either a crude mitochondrial fraction extracted from cells or lipids extracted from the crude mitochondrial fraction and were then characterized by determining their size and zeta potential. The cell uptake of the liposomes and loaded bioactive was studied using flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. The cytotoxicity of the formulations was tested by MTS cytotoxicity assay. RESULTS: Liposomes prepared with the mitochondrial extracts were non-toxic and colocalized with mitochondria in F98 cells. Addition of DOTAP to the liposomes facilitated DNA complexation and the DNA delivered intracellularly co-localized with mitochondria. CONCLUSION: The results from this study establish the potential of using a mitochondrial fraction isolated from cells to prepare liposomes capable of delivering biologically active molecules to mitochondria of live mammalian cells.
