Effects of a novel pH-sensitive liposome with cleavable esterase-catalyzed and pH-responsive double smart mPEG lipid derivative on ABC phenomenon

Abstract

BackgroundThe ABC phenomenon is described as a syndrome of accelerated clearance of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-modified liposomes from the bloodstream when repeatedly injected, with their increased accumulation in the liver and spleen.MethodsTo clarify this immune response phenomenon, we evaluated a novel modified pH-sensitive liposome with a cleavable double smart PEG-lipid derivative (mPEG-Hz-CHEMS).ResultsThe ABC phenomenon in mice was brought about by repeated injection of conventional PEG-PE liposomes and was accompanied by a greatly increased uptake in the liver. However, a slight ABC phenomenon was brought about by repeated injection of mPEG-CHEMS liposomes and was accompanied by only a slightly increased uptake in the liver, and repeated injection of mPEG-Hz-CHEMS liposomes did not induce the ABC phenomenon and there was no increase in liver accumulation. This finding indicates that the cleavable mPEG-Hz-CHEMS derivative could lessen or eliminate the ABC phenomenon induced by repeated injection of PEGylated liposomes.ConclusionThis research has shed some light on a solution to the ABC phenomenon using a cleavable PEG-Hz-CHEMS derivative encapsulated in nanoparticles.