Cyclodextrin-based photoactive liposomal nanoparticles for tumor targeting

The present study is aimed at the development of drug-in-cyclodextrin-in-liposome (DCL) nanoconstruct by coupling two independent delivery systems: cyclodextrin/mTHPC inclusion complexes and liposomal vesicles to improve the transport of mTHPC to the target tissue and to strengthen its intra-tissue accumulation in the tumor. Liposomes offer an excellent opportunity to achieve selective drug, targeting what is expected to prevent local irritation and reduce drug toxicity. Сyclodextrins (CDs) have been utilized as independent carriers for improvement of pharmaceutical properties such as solubility, stability, and bioavailability of various drug molecules, including mTHPC. Therefore, we assumed that encapsulation of CD-complexed drug into liposomes might increase drug loading capacity, entrapment efficiency, may restrain the dissociation of drug-CD complexes and prolong its systemic circulation. DCL nanoparticles have been prepared with various compositions to optimize the structure aiming to alter more favorably the distribution of temoporfin in tumor tissue. To enhance the encapsulation efficiency, double loaded DCLs, which include mTHPC in lipid bilayer along with (CD-mTHPC) inclusion complexes in the inner aqueous lumen, were prepared. It was demonstrated that DCLs possessed higher serum stability compared with conventional mTHPC liposomes (Foslip). In fine, we showed that the presence of serum in the medium less affected cellular uptake of mTHPC delivered by double loaded MDCL compared with Foslip.