亮氨酸拉链型脂肽对脂质体温敏性调节的分子模拟

含亮氨酸拉链型脂肽的温敏性脂质体被认为是抗癌药物的优良载体。亮氨酸拉链型脂肽的主要氨基酸残基序列为[VAQLEVK-VAQLESK-VSKLESK-VSSLESK],嵌入脂质体后可以有效改善脂质体的温敏性。本文首先采用隐式溶剂副本交换分子动力学方法,对N端修饰的亮氨酸拉链单链的折叠状态进行了模拟,得到了亮氨酸拉链单链的转变温度。并对包含该种新型亮氨酸拉链型脂肽的DPPC脂质体进行常规分子动力学模拟,研究了2种不同头基的亮氨酸拉链型脂肽(ALA,C3CO)二聚体嵌入后DPPC脂质体的相转变温度变化,证明了亮氨酸拉链型脂肽对于该脂质体温敏性的控制作用。利用这一规律,可以对亮氨酸拉链型脂肽进行优化改良,得到效果更佳的温敏脂质体,对于抗癌药物载体的开发有着重要的意义。     

温度敏感性药物载体及其在肿瘤热化疗中的应用

温度敏感性材料由于其理化性质对温度变化高度敏感,同时相变温度又易于调控,因而成为条件响应型药物控释载体中的研究热点。多种类型的温敏性药物载体,包括脂质体、聚合物囊泡、聚合物胶束,经过多年的研究和优化,其稳定性得到进一步的提高,而相变温度也实现了在较宽范围内的随意调整,可同时适用于病理性的高热和局部人工热疗等多种方式的温敏靶向性释药。并且,由于局部热疗可以有效控制温敏载体的药物释放,同时,热疗还能有效增强化疗药物的细胞毒性,因此温敏药物载体在肿瘤化疗和热化疗领域具有独特的应用潜力。本综述简要回顾了温敏性载体在药物载体领域的研究现状。在此基础上,从对肿瘤热化疗原理、发展现状、疗效影响因素的角度,进一步综述了温敏性药物载体在肿瘤热化疗领域的研究进展,特别关注了复合型温敏载体,因为这类载体结合了具有光热/磁热效应的纳米颗粒而兼具自升温能力,因而在靶向性热化疗中独具优势。最后,本文结合热化疗的影响因素,对温敏性载体在肿瘤热化疗领域的发展方向进行了展望。     

包覆NIPAM-ODA双亲共聚物的脂质体的温控释放行为

为了研究对温度敏感的双亲性共聚物包覆的脂质体的温控释放行为,合成了N-异丙基丙烯酰胺(NIPAM)和丙烯酸十八酯(ODA)的共聚物。利用荧光探针法研究了共聚物水溶液随温度升高时出现的LCST(lower critical solution temperature)现象,表明该高分子在温度升高到30℃以上时存在着明显的相分离行为。5(6)-羧基荧光素(5(6)-CF)为标记物,研究了高分子包覆的小单层脂质体(small unilamelar vesicles)的释放行为。发现在温度低于30℃时,5(6)-CF的释放百分率比未包覆高分子的脂质体要低;而当温度升高到30℃以上时,其释放百分率明显提高。这种温控释放行为和包覆在脂质体上的高分子在其LCST时存在的相分离行为有关。进一步利用荧光偏振法研究了脂质体膜在包覆高分子后的流动性变化,发现:在温度低于30℃时,其流动性随温度升高而增大;而在温度高于30℃时,脂质体膜流动性随温度升高而降低,进一步证实了高分子在其LCST以上时对脂质体膜的破坏作用。     

温敏性荧光纳米材料的合成

合成了以荧光材料罗丹明B/SiO2为核,交联聚N-异丙基丙烯酰胺(PNIPAM)为壳的具有核/壳结构的纳米颗粒。用氢氟酸除去二氧化硅模板核后,形成了核壳结构的温敏荧光微球。28～36℃范围内的温敏性实验表明,该粒子的低临界溶解温度(LCST)为33℃,具有温敏性,用SEM、TEM、XRD、FT-IR等手段对温敏荧光微球的组成和结构进行了表征和分析,探讨了磁性温敏纳米颗粒的制备机理。     

氟碳磷脂的合成及其脂质体的生成

合成了两种具有氟碳疏水性链的磷脂, 其极性部分分别为胆碱和磷酸根. 超声分散下, 上述两种磷脂均可形成腈质体, 以电子显微镜观察和动态光散射测定得到胆碱形成的脂质体的尺寸在32-37nm左右. 而对后者的光散射测定得出的尺寸较大并与溶液的pH值有关. 具有胆极性基的氟碳脂质体如同相应的碳氢磷脂一样, 具有包容水溶性受物的能力,但透光性更好. 从荧光探针的荧光强度对温度变化的研究指出, 在53℃左右胆碱型氟碳脂质体发生了相变.     

用NMR方法研究中药山莨菪碱与磷脂脂质体的相互作用

用核磁共振(NMR)方法研究了中药山莨菪碱(anisodamine)与结构不同的3种磷脂脂质体相互作用,二棕榈酰磷脂酰胆碱(DPPC)极性基团空阻较大,山莨菪碱三级胺端不能与P-O键作用,仍处于水相,苯环只能嵌入到甘油骨架C-2附近。二棕榈酰磷脂酸(DPPA)极性头空间位阻较小,山莨菪碱苯环可以直接插入到靠近脂酰链γ-次甲基的位置,而三级胺端与极性头发生静电作用,并且药物可以提高DPPA脂质体的流动性。山莨菪碱通过三级胺端与鞘磷脂(SPM)极性头静电作用较强,而苯环位于SPM脂双层亲水和疏水区界面。药物对3种磷脂双层结构影响很小。     

纳米雄黄与脂质体仿生膜的相互作用研究

本工作以卵磷脂与胆固醇组成的磷脂小单层脂质体（small unilamelarvesicles,suv）作为仿生膜的简单模型,采用表面等离子共振技术（SPR）、荧光偏振、拉曼（Raman）光谱、核磁共振（NMR）及原子力显微镜（AFM）研究纳米雄黄与SUV仿生膜的相互作用,证实了磷脂是纳米雄黄作用的关键靶分子．随纳米雄黄结合,SUV仿生膜的相对粘度聃值增大,膜的流动性减小．Raman光谱数据计算表明,作用后膜的纵向有序性参数s。。及横向有序性参数Slat值增大,说明纳米雄黄的结合使磷脂膜的脂酰基链全反式构型比例上升,膜的流动性减小．由Raman光谱和引PNMR结果推测,磷脂极性头部是纳米雄黄与磷脂的主要结合位点。AFM实时观测,纳米雄黄通过在膜表面打“孔”或“洞”的方式,损坏磷脂膜．     

纳米白藜芦醇脂质体的制备及分配系数测定

采用薄膜旋转蒸发-超声法制备了纳米白藜芦醇脂质体(RES-Lip),并用透射电子显微镜(TEM)和动态光散射技术(DLS)对产物进行表征;测定了膜材比(卵磷脂与胆固醇质量比m PC:m Chol=5:1,8:1,10:1,12:1)和药脂比(药物与卵磷脂质量比m RES:m PC=1:25,1:40,1:50,1:60)对RES-Lip脂质体-水分配系数(Plip/w)的影响,以及油-水分配系数(lg P_(o/w))和脂质体-水分配系数(lgP_(lip/w))随p H值的变化趋势,计算了RES-Lip中药物与磷脂双分子膜之间的吉布斯自由能。结果表明,实验中所制备的RES-Lip呈球形囊泡结构,粒径约为100 nm;当膜材比和药脂比分别为10:1和1:40时,lgP_(lip/w)最大,说明此时RES与磷脂膜间的综合作用力最大;RES-Lip的分配系数(lg P_(o/w)和lgP_(lip/w))随体系p H的变化趋势相同,说明RES与磷脂膜的作用力中以疏水作用为主,氢键、静电作用为辅;RES-Lip中RES与脂质体膜之间的吉布斯自由能为-17.07 k J·mol~(-1)。     

手性温敏凝胶Poly(NIPAM-co-AAc-L-Trp)的制备及性能

利用L-色氨酸(L-Trp)为手性源,经酯化、缩合等反应制备手性单体AAc-L-Trp,进而在交联剂N,N’-亚甲基双丙烯酰胺(MBAA)和引发剂偶氮二异丁腈(AIBN)的作用下,与N-异丙基丙烯酰胺(NIPAM)发生自由基共聚制备了一种可用于手性拆分的新型手性温敏水凝胶Poly(NIPAM-co-AAc-L-Trp),其结构经IR确证.通过对其温敏性研究发现,相比于PNIPAM凝胶,疏水性手性单体的引入使Poly(NIPAM-co-AAc-L-Trp)凝胶的温敏性下降,LCST随着手性单体含量的增加而降低.以DL-苯丙氨酸为模型药物对其手性识别和拆分性能进行研究,结果表明,手性温敏凝胶可选择性地吸附D-型对映体,且吸附量随着手性单体含量增加而增加;提高温度(45°C)有利于手性温敏凝胶对DL-苯丙氨酸的拆分.     

稀土离子及其配合物与磷脂脂质体的相互作用

用核磁共振(NMR)方法研究了稀土离子及其配合物与二棕榈酰磷脂酰胆碱(DPPC)和鞘磷脂(SPM)脂质体的相互作用.磷脂极性头平行于膜平面.稀土离子与磷脂极性头P—O键键合,与经典模型不同,键合后极性基团仍平行于膜平面,而不是垂直于膜平面.稳定的稀土配合物对磷脂脂双层结构影响很小.将稀土离子引入磷脂脂质体和小分子配体的混合物中,稀土首先与小分子配体配位.     

Mechanistic studies of the triggered release of liposomal contents by matrix metalloproteinase-9

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) constitute a class of extracellular-matrix-degrading enzymes overexpressed in many cancers and contribute to the metastatic ability of the cancer cells. We have recently demonstrated that liposomal contents can be released when triggered by the enzyme MMP-9. Herein, we report the results of our mechanistic studies of the MMP-9-triggered release of liposomal contents. We synthesized peptides containing the cleavage site for MMP-9 and conjugated them with fatty acids to prepare the corresponding lipopeptides. By employing circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, we demonstrated that the lipopeptides, when incorporated into liposomes, are demixed in the lipid bilayers and generate triple-helical structures. MMP-9 cleaves the triple-helical peptides, leading to the release of the liposomal contents. Other MMPs, which cannot hydrolyze triple-helical peptides, fail to release the contents from the liposomes. We also observed that the rate and extent of release of the liposomal contents depend on the mismatch between the acyl chains of the synthesized lipopeptide and phospholipid components of the liposomes. CD spectroscopic studies imply that the observed differences in the release reflect the ability of the liposomal membrane to anneal the defects following the enzymatic cleavage of the liposome-incorporated lipopeptides.     

Molecular interactions between phospholipids and mangostin in a lipid bilayer

Molecular interactions between phospholipids and mangostin in a lipid bilayer have been investigated in terms of the maximum additive concentration (MAC) of mangostin in liposomes, the surface potential, particle size, microscopic-viscosity and microscopic-polarity of liposomes, and the permeability of glucose. The mangostin used is a natural product extract: 1,3,6-trihydroxy-7-methoxy-2,8-bis(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-9-xanthenenone.

The MAC of mangostin was fairly dependent upon the nature of the liposomes (uncharged, negatively charged or positively charged). Solubilization of mangostin in the liposomal bilayer resulted in both an increase in the negative charge on the liposomal surface, strenghthening the state of the bilayer membrane, and a depression in the release of the glucose involved. Mangostin was found to temporarily stabilize the liposomal bilayer, although the bilayer membrane is still unstable in the long run.     

Effects of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chain length of PEG-lipid on the permeability of liposomal bilayer membranes

The effects of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chain length of PEG-lipid on the membrane characteristics of liposomes were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), freeze-fracture electron microscopy (FFEM), fluorescence polarization measurement and permeability measurement using carboxyfluorescein (CF). PEG-liposomes were prepared from mixtures of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and distearoyl phosphatidylethanolamines with covalently attached PEG molecular weights of 1000, 2000, 3000 and 5000 (DSPE-PEG). DSC and FFEM results showed that the addition of DSPE-PEG to DPPC in the preparation of liposomes caused the lateral phase separation both in the gel and liquid-crystalline states. The fluidity in the hydrocarbon region of liposomal bilayer membranes was not significantly changed by the addition of DSPE-PEG, while that in the interfacial region was markedly increased. From these results, it was anticipated that the CF leakage from PEG-liposomes is accelerated compared with DPPC liposomes. However, CF leakage from liposomes containing DSPE-PEG with a 0.060 mol fraction was depressed compared with regular liposomes, and the leakage decreased with increasing PEG chain length. Furthermore, the CF leakage from liposomes containing DSPE-PEG with a 0.145 mol fraction was slightly increased compared with that of liposomes containing DSPE-PEG with a 0.060 mol fraction. It is suggested that the solute permeability from the PEG-liposomes was affected by not only properties of the liposomal bilayer membranes such as phase transition temperature, phase separation and membrane fluidity, but also the PEG chain of the liposomal surface.     

Characterisation of electroosmotic flow in capillary electrochromatography columns

Immobilized liposome chromatography (ILC) has been proven to be a useful method for the study or rapid screening of drug-membrane interactions. To obtain an adequate liposomal membrane phase for ILC, unilamellar liposomes were immobilized in gel beads by avidin-biotin binding. The retardation of 15 basic drugs on the liposome column could be converted to membrane partitioning coefficients, K(LM). The effects of small or large unilamellar liposomes and multilamellar liposomes on the drug-membrane partitioning were compared. The K(LM) values for both small and large liposomes were similar, but higher than those for the multilamellar liposomes. The basic drugs showed stronger partitioning into negatively charged liposomes than into either neutral liposomes or positively charged liposomes. The membrane fluidity of the immobilized liposomes was modulated by incorporating cholesterol into the liposomal membranes, by changing the acyl chain length and degree of unsaturation of the phospholipids, and by changing the temperature for ILC runs. Our data show that K(LM) obtained using ILC correlated well with those reported by batch studies using free liposomes. It is concluded that negatively charged or cholesterol-containing large unilamellar liposomes are suitable models for the ILC analysis of drug-membrane interactions.     

Recent advances in liposomal nanohybrid cerasomes as promising drug nanocarriers

Liposomes have been extensively investigated as possible carriers for diagnostic or therapeutic agents due to their unique properties. However, liposomes still have not attained their full potential as drug and gene delivery vehicles because of their insufficient morphological stability. Recently, a super-stable and freestanding hybrid liposomal cerasome (partially ceramic- or silica-coated liposome) has drawn much attention as a novel drug delivery system because its atomic layer of polyorganosiloxane surface imparts higher morphological stability than conventional liposomes and its liposomal bilayer structure reduces the overall rigidity and density greatly compared to silica nanoparticles. Cerasomes are more biocompatible than silica nanoparticles due to the incorporation of the liposomal architecture into cerasomes. Cerasomes combine the advantages of both liposomes and silica nanoparticles but overcome their disadvantages so cerasomes are ideal drug delivery systems. The present review will first highlights some of the key advances of the past decade in the technology of cerasome production and then review current biomedical applications of cerasomes, with a view to stimulating further research in this area of study.     

STUDIES ON THE MECHANISM OF THE HEMATOPORPHYRIN-SENSITIZED PHOTOOXIDATION OF 1,3-DIPHENYLISOBENZOFURAN IN ETHANOL and UNILAMELLAR LIPOSOMES

The 5 microM hematoporphyrin-sensitized photooxidation of 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran (DPBF) was studied in homogeneous ethanolic solutions and in aqueous dispersions of unilamellar liposomes of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine; both the porphyrin and DPBF are embedded in the phospholipid bilayer. The rate and quantum yield of DPBF photooxidation were found to increase upon increasing the substrate concentration and were higher in the liposome system, while they were unaffected by the fluidity of the phospholipid bilayer. Time-resolved spectroscopic measurements showed that the photooxidation of DPBF in ethanol solution proceeds by a type II O2(1 delta g)-involving mechanism. In the liposomal vesicles the high local concentration of hematoporphyrin (Hp) and DPBF in the phospholipid bilayer (ca 2000-fold higher than the stoichiometric concentration) enhances the probability of energy transfer from triplet Hp to DPBF with generation of triplet DPBF; hence O2 (1 delta g) formation can be promoted by both triplet Hp and triplet DPBF. A minor fraction of triplet DPBF quenchings appears to generate radical species which propagate DPBF damage by chain reaction.     

Effect of adsorption of bovine serum albumin on liposomal membrane characteristics

The effect of adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) on the membrane characteristics of liposomes at pH 7.4 was examined in terms of zeta potential, micropolarity, microfluidity and permeability of liposomal bilayer membranes, where negatively charged L-alpha-dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol (DPPG)/L-alpha-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), negatively charged dicetylphosphate (DCP)/DPPC and positively charged stearylamine (SA)/DPPC mixed liposomes were used. BSA with negative charges adsorbed on negatively charged DPPG/DPPC mixed liposomes but did not adsorb on negatively charged DCP/DPPC and positively charged SA/DPPC mixed liposomes. Furthermore, the adsorption amount of BSA on the mixed DPPG/DPPC liposomes increased with increasing the mole fraction of DPPG in spite of a possible electrostatic repulsion between BSA and DPPG. Thus, the adsorption of BSA on liposomes was likely to be related to the hydrophobic interaction between BSA and liposomes. The microfluidity of liposomal bilayer membranes near the bilayer center decreased by the adsorption of BSA, while the permeability of liposomal bilayer membranes increased by the adsorption of BSA on liposomes. These results are considered to be due to that the adsorption of BSA brings about a phase separation in liposomes and that a temporary gap is consequently formed in the liposomal bilayer membranes, thereby the permeability of liposomal bilayer membranes increases by the adsorption of BSA.     

Stabilized liposomes with phospholipid polymers and their interactions with blood cells

To stabilize a phospholipid liposome, addition of various water-soluble polymers into a liposomal aqueous suspension was investigated. The water-soluble polymers were poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), poly(N-vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVPy) and poly[2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine(MPC)], and poly[MPC-co-n-butyl methacrylate(BMA)]. The gel–liquid crystal transition temperature (T_c) of the diparmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) liposome was not changed by addition of these polymers significantly. However, membrane fluidity of DPPC liposome treated with water-soluble polymers, which was measured with fluorescence probe, depended on the chemical structure of the water-soluble polymers. In the case of PEO and PVPy, the temperature dependence of membrane fluidity was the same as that of the original DPPC liposome, on the other hand, poly(MPC) and poly(MPC-co-BMA) induced a rise in the temperature where an increase in the membrane fluidity was observed. The release of carboxy fluorescein from the DPPC liposome was suppressed by the addition of the MPC polymers. The liposomes in the MPC polymer solution were stable compared with those in water when plasma was added into the suspension. Interactions with stabilized liposome with blood cells such as platelets and erythrocytes were evaluated. Activation of platelets in contact with liposome covered with poly(MPC) or poly(MPC-co-BMA) was less than PEO-stabilized liposome. On the other hand, no hemolysis of erythrocytes was observed when every polymer-treated liposome was added in the suspension of erythrocytes. Based on these results, the MPC polymers could interact with the liposome surface, adsorb on the liposomes and stabilize them, and had no adverse effect to the blood cells even when they were in a physiological environment.     

Effects of lysozyme and bovine serum albumin on membrane characteristics of dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol liposomes

The effects of adsorption of two kinds of proteins on the membrane characteristics of liposomes were examined at pH 7.4 in terms of adsorption amounts of proteins on liposomes, penetrations of proteins into liposomal bilayer membranes, phase transition temperature, microviscosity and permeability of liposomal bilayer membranes, using positively charged lysozyme (LSZ) and negatively charged bovine serum albumin (BSA) as proteins and negatively charged L-alpha-dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol (DPPG) liposomes. The saturated adsorption amount of LSZ was 720 g per mol of liposomal DPPG, while that of BSA was 44 g per mol of liposomal DPPG. The penetration of LSZ into DPPG lipid membranes was greater than that of BSA. The microviscosity in the hydrophobic region of liposomal bilayer membranes increased due to adsorption (penetration) of LSZ or BSA, while the permeability of liposomal bilayer membranes increased. The gel-liquid crystalline phase transition temperature of liposomal bilayer membranes was not affected by adsorption of LSZ or BSA, while the DSC peak area (heat of phase transition) decreased with increasing adsorption amount of LSZ or BSA. It is suggested that boundary DPPG makes no contribution to the phase transition and that boundary DPPG and bulk DPPG are in the phase-separated state, thereby increasing the permeability of liposomal bilayer membranes through adsorption of LSZ or BSA. A possible schematic model for the adsorption of LSZ or BSA on DPPG liposomes was proposed.