Determination of key parameters for a mechanism-based model to predict Doxorubicin release from actively loaded liposomes.

Despite extensive study of liposomal drug formulations, reliable predictive models of release kinetics in vitro and in vivo are still lacking. Progress in the development of robust, predictive release models has been hindered by a lack of systematic, quantitative characterization of these complex drug delivery systems with respect to the myriad of factors that may influence drug release kinetics and the wide range of dissolution media/methods employed to monitor release. In this paper, the key processes and parameters needed to develop a complete mechanism-based model for doxorubicin release from actively loaded liposomal formulations resembling Doxil(®) are determined.