Temperature-triggered nanotechnology for chemotherapy: Rapid release from lysolipid temperature-sensitive liposomes
Lysolipid temperature-sensitive liposomes (LTSLs) demonstrate enhanced release of encapsulated drug contents via grain boundary permeabilization when heated to their phase transition temperature, resulting in dramatic in vivo tumor toxicity. Dithionite ion permeability and doxorubicin release were measured for lysolipid and nonlysolipid containing membranes to characterize and attempt to determine the mechanism behind the lysolipid-generated permeability enhancement. Results indicate that a dramatic enhancement in permeability and drug release begins about two degrees below the calorimetric peak of the liposome thermal transition, and extends several degrees past it. Lysolipid appears to not desorb from the liposomes during heating, but remains in the membranes stabilizing long lasting pores through which small molecules and drugs can freely diffuse. This is the basis for the temperature-triggered nanotechnology for drug release.
