Synthesis of lipid-black phosphorus quantum dot bilayer vesicles for near-infrared-controlled drug release.

Black phosphorus quantum dots are incorporated into liposomal bilayers to produce a drug delivery system with excellent near-infrared (NIR) photothermal properties and drug release capability controlled by light. In vitro experiments demonstrate its good biocompatibility and NIR-light-induced chemo-photothermal antitumor efficiency.

Low nephrotoxicity of an effective amphotericin B formulation with cationic bilayer fragments.

OBJECTIVES: Evaluation of nephrotoxicity of a novel amphotericin B (AMB) formulation with dioctadecyldimethylammonium bromide (DODAB) bilayer fragments (DOD/AMB). METHODS: Dose-dependent cytotoxicity of DOD/AMB was evaluated in vitro against cultured kidney epithelial cells in culture. For in vivo experiments, Swiss Webster female mice were injected intraperitoneally for 10 consecutive days with 0.4 mg/kg/day AMB in the form of traditional bile salt desoxycholate (DOC)/AMB or DOD/AMB. Body and spleen weight, and biochemical and histopathological data were obtained at days 11 and 180 after injection. RESULTS: Nephrotoxicity of the novel formulation was lower than that of Fungizone (DOC/AMB), which is the traditional AMB formulation using DOC. Dose-dependent cytotoxicity of DOD/AMB was lower than that exhibited by DOC/AMB. At day 11, DODAB and DOD/AMB caused loss of body weight and increase in spleen weight, which were not observed for DOC/AMB, although the changes were reversible and weights returned to control values at day 180. Ten days after injection, biochemical parameters for hepatic and renal function remained unaltered. At day 180, renal cortex histopathology revealed leucocytic infiltration and moderate hydropic degeneration of the renal tubules in the DODAB and DOD/AMB groups, in contrast to more severe lesions observed for the DOC/AMB group such as tubular cystic degeneration and glomerular injury, which were absent for the former groups. CONCLUSIONS: The DOD/AMB formulation exhibited differential cytotoxicity and low nephrotoxicity, but there were also important aspects of general toxicity that will require evaluation with full-scale toxicity protocols.

Encapsulation of DNA in new multilamellar vesicles prepared by shearing a lyotropic lamellar phase.

Encapsulation of DNA in a new non-cationic multilamellar vector (Spherulites), composed of phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol and polyoxyethylene alcohol, is described here for the first time. Spherulites entrapping DNA were prepared by shearing a phospholipid lyotropic lamellar phase, using a recently discovered method. The average diameter of these vesicles ranges around 300 nm, and can be adjusted depending on the conditions of the process. The formulation did not result in cytotoxicity for the human cells and could be used as a DNA delivery system. More emphasis is brought to the role of condensing agents like histones on the encapsulation yield, which has been studied using radiolabelled DNA. It is shown that use of histones (histone to DNA ratio of 0.4) can increase significantly the encapsulation of DNA, thus improving the transfection efficiency. Transfection experiments were done with success using the beta-galactoside reporter gene on human primary cells (human skin fibroblasts and human bone marrow stromal cells). The results suggest that the spherulites have to be considered as a new and promising tool for gene transfection.