The main objective of this study was to develop a polymeric drug delivery system for paclitaxel, intended to be intravenously administered, capable of improving the therapeutic index of the drug and devoid of the adverse effects of Cremophor EL. To achieve this goal paclitaxel (Ptx)-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles (Ptx-PLGA-Nps) were prepared by the interfacial deposition method. The influence of different experimental parameters on the incorporation efficiency of paclitaxel in the nanoparticles was evaluated. Our results demonstrate that the incorporation efficiency of paclitaxel in nanoparticles was mostly affected by the method of preparation of the organic phase and also by the organic phase/aqueous phase ratio. Our data indicate that the methodology of preparation allowed the formation of spherical nanometric (<200 nm), homogeneous and negatively charged particles which are suitable for intravenous administration. The release behaviour of paclitaxel from the developed Nps exhibited a biphasic pattern characterised by an initial fast release during the first 24 h, followed by a slower and continuous release. The in vitro anti-tumoral activity of Ptx-PLGA-Nps developed in this work was assessed using a human small cell lung cancer cell line (NCI-H69 SCLC) and compared to the in vitro anti-tumoral activity of the commercial formulation Taxol. The influence of Cremophor EL on cell viability was also investigated. Exposure of NCI-H69 cells to 25 microg/ml Taxol resulted in a steep decrease in cell viability. Our results demonstrate that incorporation of Ptx in nanoparticles strongly enhances the cytotoxic effect of the drug as compared to Taxol, this effect being more relevant for prolonged incubation times.

Strategies used to enhance liposome-mediated drug delivery in vivo include the enhancement of stability and circulation time in the bloodstream, targeting to specific tissues or cells, and facilitation of intracytoplasmic delivery. pH-sensitive liposomes have been developed to mediate the introduction of highly hydrophilic molecules or macromolecules into the cytoplasm. These liposomes destabilize under acidic conditions found in the endocytotic pathway, and usually contain phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and titratable stabilizing amphiphiles. Formulations without PE have also been developed. Encapsulated compounds are thought to be transported into the cytoplasm through destabilization of or fusion with the endosome membrane. Incorporation of a low mole percentage of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-conjugated lipids into pHsensitive liposomes confers prolonged circulation times to these liposomes, which are otherwise cleared rapidly. While the incorporation of PEG -lipids reduces the pH-dependent release of encapsulated fluorescent markers in vitro, it does not hinder the cytoplasmic delivery of the markers per cell-associated liposome. This suggests that intracellular delivery is not dictated simply by the destabilization of the liposomes. Antibodies or ligands to cell surface receptors can be coupled to pH-sensitive or sterically stabilized pH-sensitive liposomes for targeting. pH-sensitive liposomes have been used to deliver anticancer drugs, antibiotics, antisense oligonucleotides, ribozymes, plasmids, proteins and peptides to cells in culture or in vivo. D

Cationic liposome-DNA complexes (lipoplexes) constitute a potentially viable alternative to viral vectors for the delivery of therapeutic genes. This review will focus on various parameters governing lipoplex biological activity, from their mode of formation to in vivo behaviour. Particular emphasis is given to the mechanism of interaction of lipoplexes with cells, in an attempt to dissect the different barriers that need to be surpassed for efficient gene expression to occur. Aspects related to new trends in the formulation of lipid-based gene delivery systems aiming at overcoming some of their limitations will be covered. Finally, examples illustrating the potential of cationic liposomes in clinical applications will be provided.

No abstract

RNA interference (RNAi) is a specific gene-silencing mechanism that can be mediated by the delivery of chemical synthesized small-interfering RNA (siRNA). RNAi might constitute a novel therapeutic approach for cancer treatment because researchers can easily design siRNA molecules to inhibit, specifically and potently, the expression of any protein involved in tumor initiation and progression. Despite all the potential of siRNA as a novel class of drugs, the limited cellular uptake, low biological stability, and unfavorable pharmacokinetics of siRNAs have limited their application in the clinic. Indeed, blood nucleases easily degrade naked siRNAs, and the kidneys rapidly eliminate these molecules. Furthermore, at the level of target cells, the negative charge and hydrophilicity of siRNAs strongly impair their cellular internalization. Therefore, the translation of siRNA to the clinical setting is highly dependent on the development of an appropriate delivery system, able to ameliorate siRNA pharmacokinetic and biodistribution properties. In this regard, major advances have been achieved with lipid-based nanocarriers sterically stabilized by poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), such as the stabilized nucleic acid lipid particles (SNALP). However, PEG has not solved all the major problems associated with siRNA delivery. In this Account, the major problems associated with PEGylated lipid-based nanoparticles, and the different strategies to overcome them are discussed. Although PEG has revolutionized the field of nanocarriers, cumulative experience has revealed that upon repeated administration, PEGylated liposomes lose their ability to circulate over long periods in the bloodstream, a phenomenon known as accelerated blood clearance. In addition, PEGylation impairs the internalization of the siRNA into the target cell and its subsequent escape from the endocytic pathway, which reduces biological activity. An interesting approach to overcome such limitations relies on the design of novel exchangeable PEG-derivatized lipids. After systemic administration, these lipids can be released from the nanoparticle surface. Moreover, the design and synthesis of novel cationic lipids that are more fusogenic and the use of internalizing targeting ligands have contributed to the emergence of novel lipid-based nanoparticles with remarkable transfection efficiency.