Bolaamphiphilic vesicles encapsulating iron oxide nanoparticles: New vehicles for magnetically targeted drug delivery

Liron Philosof-Mazor, George R. Dakwar, Mary Popov, Sofiya Kolusheva, Alexander Shames, Charles Linder, Sarina Greenberg, Eliahu Heldman, David Stepensky, Raz Jelinek

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

33 Scopus citations

Abstract

Bolaamphiphiles - amphiphilic molecules consisting of two hydrophilic headgroups linked by a hydrophobic chain - form highly stable vesicles consisting of a monolayer membrane that can be used as vehicles to deliver drugs across biological membranes, particularly the blood-brain barrier (BBB). We prepared new vesicles comprising bolaamphiphiles (bolavesicles) that encapsulate iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) and investigated their suitability for targeted drug delivery. Bolavesicles displaying different headgroups were studied, and the effect of IONP encapsulation upon membrane interactions and cell uptake were examined. Experiments revealed more pronounced membrane interactions of the bolavesicles assembled with IONPs. Furthermore, enhanced internalization and stability of the IONP-bolavesicles were observed in b.End3 brain microvessel endothelial cells - an in vitro model of the blood-brain barrier. Our findings indicate that embedded IONPs modulate bolavesicles' physicochemical properties, endow higher vesicle stability, and enhance their membrane permeability and cellular uptake. IONP-bolavesicles thus constitute a promising drug delivery platform, potentially targeted to the desired location using external magnetic field.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)241-249
Number of pages9
JournalInternational Journal of Pharmaceutics
Volume450
Issue number1-2
DOIs
StatePublished - 25 Jun 2013

Keywords

  • Bolaamphiphiles
  • Iron oxide nanoparticles
  • Magnetic nanoparticles
  • Nano-drug delivery systems
  • Targeted drug delivery

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmaceutical Science

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