Organic nanotubes for drug loading and cellular delivery.

Organic nanotubes made of synthetic amphiphilic molecules are novel materials that form by self-assembly. In this study, organic nanotubes with a carboxyl group (ONTs) at the surface were used as a carrier for the anticancer drug doxorubicin, which has a weak amine group. The IC(50) values of ONT for cells were higher than that of conventional liposomes, suggesting that ONTs are safe.

Development of an in vitro drug release assay of PEGylated liposome using bovine serum albumin and high temperature.

In this study, to establish the conditions of a drug release assay for PEGylated liposome formulations that relates with the drug stability profile in serum in vivo, the influences of incubation temperature and serum protein in the release buffer were examined using liposomal doxorubicin (DXR). In in vitro drug release assays, a PEGylated liposomal DXR in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) at 37 degrees C showed higher drug release rate than non-PEGylated formulation although PEGylated liposomal DXR had higher stability than an equivalent non-PEGylated formulation following intravenous injection. When bovine serum albumin (BSA) and increased temperature, 50 degrees C, were used to accelerate drug release from the liposomes and to mimic in vivo result, non-PEGylated liposomal DXR showed conversely higher release than a PEGylated formulation.