Enhancement of Liposomal Drug Loading by Using Supersaturated Drug Solution

Abstract

Liposomes are used for systemic delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs to reduce their nonspecific side effects. Liposomes can encapsulate hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs in the water compartment and the lipid membrane, respectively. However, typical drug loading capacity of liposomes by passive loading method is less than 1%. The low drug loading efficiency is problematic because it necessitates the use of a large amount of carrier materials that may cause undesirable biological effects. To increase drug loading in liposomes, weusedsupersaturated drug solutionswith gemcitabine (GEM) and doxorubicin (Dox) as examples. The prepared liposomes showed higher drug loading compared with passive loading, maintainedstabilityand provided sustained drug release for 48 hrs.