Liposome interaction with macrophages and foam cells for atherosclerosis treatment: effects of size, surface charge and lipid composition
- 7 October 2021
- journal article
- research article
- Published by IOP Publishing in Nanotechnology
- Vol. 32 (50), 505105
- https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6528/ac2810
Abstract
Liposomes are potential drug carriers for atherosclerosis therapy due to low immunogenicity and ease of surface modifications that allow them to have prolonged circulation half-life and specifically target atherosclerotic sites to increase uptake efficiency. However, the effects of their size, charge, and lipid compositions on macrophage and foam cell behaviour are not fully understood. In this study, liposomes of different sizes (60 nm, 100 nm and 180 nm), charges (-40 mV, -20 mV, neutral, +15 mV and +30 mV) and lipid compositions (1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine, 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, L-a-phosphatidylcholine, and egg sphingomyelin) were synthesized, characterized and exposed to macrophages and foam cells. Compared to 100 nm neutral 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) liposomes, flow cytometry and confocal imaging indicated that cationic liposomes and 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC) liposomes were internalized more by both macrophages and foam cells. Through endocytosis inhibition, phagocytosis and clathrin-mediated endocytosis were identified as the dominant mechanisms of uptake. Anionic and DSPC liposomes induced more cholesterol efflux capacity in foam cells. These results provide a guide for the optimal size, charge, and lipid composition of liposomes as drug carriers for atherosclerosis treatment.Keywords
Funding Information
- NTU-Northwestern Institute for Nanomedicine (M4081503.F40.710090)
This publication has 58 references indexed in Scilit:
- Internalization of paramagnetic phosphatidylserine-containing liposomes by macrophagesJournal of Nanobiotechnology, 2012
- Perspectives and opportunities for nanomedicine in the management of atherosclerosisNature Reviews Drug Discovery, 2011
- Multimodal Clinical Imaging To Longitudinally Assess a Nanomedical Anti-Inflammatory Treatment in Experimental AtherosclerosisMolecular Pharmaceutics, 2010
- Polyunsaturated liposomes are antiviral against hepatitis B and C viruses and HIV by decreasing cholesterol levels in infected cellsProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2010
- Physicochemical parameters affecting liposomal bisphosphonates bioactivity for restenosis therapy: Internalization, cell inhibition, activation of cytokines and complement, and mechanism of cell deathJournal of Controlled Release, 2010
- Drug-related problems observed in a pharmaceutical care service, Belo Horizonte, BrazilBrazilian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2009
- Role of Particle Size in Phagocytosis of Polymeric MicrospheresPharmaceutical Research, 2008
- Liposome OpsonizationJournal of Liposome Research, 2005
- Complement-dependent phagocytosis of liposomes by macrophages: Suppressive effects of “stealth” lipidsBiochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 1991
- Cholesterol efflux from adipose cells is coupled to diacylglycerol production and protein kinase C activationBiochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 1990