Liposomes are phospholipid-based self-assembled nanoparticles. Various components can be solubilized in the lipid bilayer, encapsulated aqueous core or attached to surface, making liposomes attractive platforms for multimodality functionalization. Here we describe theranostic delivering a magnetic resonance contrast agent (lipid derivative of gadopentetic acid) and hydrophobic photosensitizer (...

PURPOSE. To evaluate the effects of intravitreal injection of liposomes encapsulating tacrolimus (FK506) on experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) in Lewis rats. METHODS. Liposomes containing tacrolimus were prepared by reverse-phase evaporation vesicles. EAU was induced in Lewis rats by subcutaneous injection of interphotoreceptor retinoid-binding protein R16 peptide emulsified in adjuvan...

A tumor model designed to assess liposome-mediated drug delivery to liver has been used in an attempt to better understand the mechanism of activity of liposomal mitoxantrone, a liposomal anticancer drug formulation that appears to be uniquely effective in treating this tumor model. Reductions in liposomal mitoxantrone accumulation in the liver were achieved either by use of poly(ethylene)glyco...

It is generally accepted that successful gene therapy depends on two major factors: tumor-specific expression of a therapeutic gene and the efficient transfer of a therapeutic gene to tumor cells. For gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (GDEPT) involving Escherichia coli cytosine deaminase (CD) and 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC), several tumor-specific promoters and virus-based vectors were used. No ...

A folate-targeted transfection complex that is internalized by certain cancer cells and displays several properties reminiscent of enveloped viruses has been developed. These liposomal vectors are comprised of a polycation-condensed DNA plasmid associated with a mixture of neutral and anionic lipids supplemented with folate-poly(ethylene glycol)-dioleylphosphatidylethanolamine for tumor cell-sp...

The aim of the present study was to investigate the treatment of refractory Cryptococcus neoformans encephalitis with continuous administration of liposomal amphotericin B (AmB). Liposomal AmB was administered to a 28-year-old male by intravenous injection, with daily increasing dosages up to 150 mg per day and combined use of fluconazole (0.4 g per day) and oral flucytosine tablets (1.5 g per ...

Development of novel systems of vaccine delivery is a growing demand of the aquaculture industry. Nano- and micro- encapsulation systems are promising tools to achieve efficient vaccines against orphan vaccine fish diseases. In this context, the use of liposomal based-nanocarriers has been poorly explored in fish; although liposomal nanocarriers have successfully been used in other species. Her...

Targeted delivery of small-molecule drugs has the potential to enhance selective killing of tumor cells. We have identified previously an internalizing single chain [single chain variable fragment (scFv)] antibody that targets prostate cancer cells and identified the target antigen as CD166. We report here the development of immunoliposomes using this anti-CD166 scFv (H3). We studied the effect...

Liposomal drugs are a useful alternative to conventional drugs and hold great promise for targeted delivery in the treatment of many diseases. Most of the liposomal drugs on the market or under clinical trials include cholesterol as a membrane stabilizing agent. Here, we used liposomal CA4P, an antivascular drug, to demonstrate that cholesterol content can actually modulate the release and cyto...

We compared the abilities of free and liposome-incorporated Salmonella minnesota wild-type lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and lipid A to activate peritoneal macrophages and induce lethal toxicity in mice. Incorporation of lipid A into multilamellar vesicles resulted in a 100-fold-decreased potency to prime macrophages for phorbol myristate acetate-triggered release of H2O2. In addition, liposome inco...