In vivo anti-tumor effect of expressing p14ARF-TAT using a FGF2-targeted cationic lipid vector.

Purpose: To develop an efficient and safe strategy to introduce a therapeutic gene into target cells in vivo for cancer therapy. The overall efficiency is based on proper selection of the delivery vector and expressed protein.

Methods: A plasmid coding for a specific cytotoxic fusion peptide, p14ARF-TAT, was evaluated in a xenograft mouse tumor model.

Preparation and characterization of doxorubicin liposomes.

During nanoparticle system in drug delivery, liposomes were perhaps the best characterized and one of the first to be developed. Stealth liposomes (SLs), containing polyethylene glycol-conjugated lipid, which can form a hydro-layer around liposomes bilayer, have a long circulation time and hence result in enhanced drug efficiency. Doxorubicin (DOX), an effective anticancer drug, can be loaded into liposomes by transmembrane pH gradient method to get high encapsulation efficiency with high drug/lipid ratio.

In vitro cytotoxic activity of cationic paclitaxel nanoparticles on MDR-3T3 cells.

Cationic paclitaxel nanoparticles were developed and the possible delivery mechanism was explored by cellular uptake studies. In vitro cytotoxicity of paclitaxel-loaded nanoparticles was evaluated with NIH-3T3 cells and multidrug resistant MDR-3T3 cells (with active P-glycoprotein). The IC(50)s of paclitaxel nanoparticles, liposomal paclitaxel, and Taxol((R)) on NIH-3T3 cells were 0.

Preparation and in vitro targeting of sterically stabilized liposomes modified with chimeric TNT-3 monoclonal antibody.

Aim: To prepare sterically stabilized liposomes modified with chimeric TNT-3 monoclonal antibody (chTNT-3) and investigate their immunoreactivity and in vitro targeting.

Methods: An end-group functionalized polyethylene glycol-lipid derivative (pyridylthiopropionoylamino-polyethylene glycol-hydrogenated soy phosphatidylethanolamine, PDP-PEG-HSPE) was synthesized and incorporated to sterically stabilized liposomes. After mild thiolysis of the PDP groups by dithiothreitol, liposomes were covalently linked with maleimide-derivatized chTNT-3 and formed sterically stabilized immunoliposomes.

Spectrophotometry on measuring the size of liposomes.

Aim: To establish a spectrophotometric method for measurement of the sizes of liposomes for evaluating physical stability of liposomes.

Methods: The sterically stabilized liposomes (SLs) were prepared by ethanol injection method and extrusion method. The mean cumulant diameters (D) of the vesicles were determined by electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering.