Polyethylene Glycol-phosphatidylethanolamine Research Articles

Environment-responsive polymers for coating of pharmaceutical nanocarriers

Polyethylene glycol derivatives, such as block copolymers of polyethylene glycol and diacyllipids (for example, phosphatidylethanolamine) are widely used for surface modification of various pharmaceutical carriers in order to impart them longevity in the body. To make polyethylene glycol detachable from the surface of pharmaceutical carrier and facilitate the interaction of the carrier with target cells when in pathological zone, we have prepared a set of polyethylene glycol-phosphatidylethanolamine block copolymers with the pH sensitive hydrazone bond between polyethylene glycol and phosphatidylethanolamine, which destabilizes at lowered pH values typical for tumors and inflammation zones. We have demonstrated that the stability of the hydrazone bond at normal physiological pH (7.4) as well as the rate of its hydrolysis at pH 6 and below strongly depend on the type of substitutions at this bond. Using aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes and ketones, polyethylene glycol-phosphatidylethanolamine block copolymers were prepared with different stabilities and degradation rates, which can be useful in constructing stimuli-sensitive pharmaceutical carriers.

Near infrared planar tumor imaging and quantification using nanosized Alexa 750-labeled phospholipid micelles

A novel highly biocompatible near infrared nanosized contrast agent was developed and used for rapid tumor detection and quantification using planar optical imaging and analysis. With this in mind, the near infrared fluorescent dye Alexa 750 was covalently attached to polyethylene glycol-phosphatidylethanolamine (PEG-PE) conjugate, and double labeled (with Alexa and rhodamine) PEG-PE micelles were injected into mice and observed using planar optical imaging. Pixel intensity data from the tumor site were normalized versus the autofluorescence of the animal at the same time point and normalized as signal to noise over the scattered light from the various tissues of the mice. The detected signal from the tumor was higher than the background noise allowing for rapid detection of the tumor. The tumor was clearly visible within one hour. Some signal was also detected from the abdomen of the mice. As determined by microscopy analysis, other organs of accumulation were the liver and kidney, which corresponded well to the data from the whole body imaging animal studies.

Nanosized cancer cell-targeted polymeric immunomicelles loaded with superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles

Stable 30–50 nm polymeric polyethylene glycol–phosphatidylethanolamine (PEG–PE)-based micelles entrapping superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) have been prepared. At similar concentrations of SPION, the SPION-micelles had significantly better magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2 relaxation signal compared to ‘plain’ SPION. Freeze-fracture electron microscopy confirmed SPION entrapment in the lipid core of the PEG–PE micelles. To enhance the targeting capability of these micelles, their surface was modified with the cancer cell-specific anti-nucleosome monoclonal antibody 2C5 (mAb 2C5). Such mAb 2C5-SPION immunomicelles demonstrated specific binding with cancer cells in vitro and were able to bring more SPION to the cancer cells thus demonstrating the potential to be used as targeted MRI contrast agents for tumor imaging.

Improved transfection of spleen-derived antigen-presenting cells in culture using TATp-liposomes

Antigen presenting cells (APC) are among the most important cells of the immune system since they link the innate and the adaptative immune responses, directing the type of immune response to be elicited. To modulate the immune response in immune preventing or treating therapies, gene delivery into immunocompetent cells could be used. However, APC are very resistant to transfection. To increase the efficiency of APC transfection, we have used liposome-based lipoplexes additionally modified with cell-penetrating TAT peptide (TATp) for better intracellular delivery of a model plasmid encoding for the enhanced-green fluorescent protein (pEGFP). pEGFP-bearing lipoplexes made of a mixture of PC:Chol:DOTAP (60:30:10 molar ratio) with the addition of 2% mol of polyethylene glycol-phosphatidylethanolamine (PEG-PE) conjugate (plain-L) or TATp-PEG-PE (TATp-L) were shown to effectively protect the incorporated DNA from degradation. Uptake assays of rhodamine-labeled lipoplexes and transfections with the EGFP reporter gene were performed with APC derived from the mouse spleen. TATp-L-based lipoplexes allowed for significantly enhanced both, the uptake and transfection in APC. Such a tool could be used for the APC transfection as a first step in immune therapy.

Self-assembling micelle-like nanoparticles based on phospholipid–polyethyleneimine conjugates for systemic gene delivery

With few exceptions, where local administration is feasible, progress towards broad clinical application of gene therapies requires the development of effective delivery systems. Here we report a novel non-viral gene delivery vector, ‘micelle-like nanoparticle’ (MNP) suitable for systemic application. MNP were engineered by condensing plasmid DNA with a chemical conjugate of phospholipid with polyethylenimine (PLPEI) and then coating the complexes with an envelope of lipid monolayer additionally containing polyethylene glycol–phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PEG–PE), resulting in spherical ‘hard-core’ nanoparticles loaded with DNA. MNP allowed for complete protection of the loaded DNA from enzymatic degradation, resistance to salt-induced aggregation, and reduced cytotoxicity. MNP also demonstrated prolonged blood circulation and low RES accumulation. Intravenous injection of MNP loaded with plasmid DNA encoding for the Green Fluorescence Protein (GFP) resulted in an effective transfection of a distal tumor. Thus, MNP provide a promising tool for systemic gene therapy.

Mixed PEG–PE/vitamin E tumor-targeted immunomicelles as carriers for poorly soluble anti-cancer drugs: Improved drug solubilization and enhanced in vitro cytotoxicity

Two poorly soluble, potent anti-cancer drugs, paclitaxel and camptothecin, were successfully solubilized by mixed micelles of polyethylene glycol–phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PEG–PE) and vitamin E. Drug-containing micelles were additionally modified with anti-nucleosome monoclonal antibody 2C5 (mAb 2C5), which can specifically bring micelles to tumor cells in vitro. The optimized micelles had an average size of about 13–22 nm and the immuno-modification of micelles did not significantly change it. The solubilization of both drugs by the mixed micelles was more efficient than by micelles made of PEG–PE alone. Solubilization of camptothecin in micelles prevented also the hydrolysis of active lactone form of the drug to inactive carboxylate form. Drug-loaded mixed micelles and mAb 2C5-immunomicelles demonstrated significantly higher in vitro cytotoxicity than free drug against various cancer cell lines.

Enhanced in vivo antitumor efficacy of poorly soluble PDT agent, meso-tetraphenylporphine, in PEG-PE-based tumor-targeted immunomicelles

Poorly soluble photosensitizer, meso-tetraphenylporphine (TPP), was solubilized using the polymeric micelles prepared from polyethylene glycol-phosphatidyl ethanolamine conjugate (PEG-PE). TPP-loaded PEG-PE micelles have been additionally modified with tumor-specific monoclonal 2C5 antibody (mAb 2C5), which resulted in significantly improved anticancer effect of the drug under the PDT conditions against murine Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) in vivo in female C57BL/6 mice. Fourteen days after tumor inoculation, the mice with more than 2 mm diameter tumors were given an intravenous injection of 1 mg/kg of free TPP or TPP loaded into control PEG-PE micelles or into mAb 2C5-PEG-PE tumor-targeted immunomicelles. Twenty four hours after the administration, the animals were anesthetized, and tumor sites were illuminated with light (630 nm) for 12 min. Microscopic evaluation of tumor response was conducted in some mice 24 h after light irradiation, and tumor size was followed in the remaining animals for another 35 days. The attachment of mAb 2C5 to TPP-loaded immunomicelles provided the maximum level of tumor growth inhibition. Enhanced tumor accumulation of TPP-loaded mAb 2C5-PEG-PE-immunomicelles was confirmed by gamma-imaging studies. The modification of the TPP-loaded polymeric micelles with tumor-specific antibodies could be used as a general approach to enhance the efficacy of PDT.

Improving Penetration in Tumors With Nanoassemblies of Phospholipids and Doxorubicin

Drug delivery and penetration into neoplastic cells distant from tumor vessels is critical for the effectiveness of solid tumor chemotherapy. We hypothesized that 10- to 20-nm nanoassemblies of phospholipids containing doxorubicin would improve the drug's penetration, accumulation, and antitumor activity. Doxorubicin was incorporated into polyethylene glycol-phosphatidylethanolamine (PEG-PE) block copolymer micelles by a self-assembly procedure to form nanoassemblies of doxorubicin and PEG-PE. In vitro cytotoxicity of micelle-encapsulated doxorubicin (M-Dox) against A549 human non-small-cell lung carcinoma cells was examined using the methylthiazoletetrazolium assay, and confocal microscopy, total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, and flow cytometry were used to examine intracellular distribution and the cellular uptake mechanism. C57Bl/6 mice (n = 10-40 per group) bearing subcutaneous or pulmonary Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) tumors were treated with M-Dox or free doxorubicin, and tumor growth, doxorubicin pharmacokinetics, and mortality were compared. Toxicity was analyzed in tumor-free mice. All statistical tests were two-sided. Encapsulation of doxorubicin in PEG-PE micelles increased its internalization by A549 cells into lysosomes and enhanced cytotoxicity. Drug-encapsulated doxorubicin was more effective in inhibiting tumor growth in the subcutaneous LLC tumor model (mean tumor volumes in mice treated with 5 mg/kg M-Dox = 1126 mm3 and in control mice = 3693 mm3, difference = 2567 mm3, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2190 to 2943 mm3, P<.001) than free doxorubicin (mean tumor volumes in doxorubicin-treated mice = 3021 mm3 and in control mice = 3693 mm3, difference = 672 mm3, 95% CI = 296 to 1049 mm3, P = .0332, Wilcoxon signed rank test). M-Dox treatment prolonged survival in both mouse models and reduced metastases in the pulmonary model; it also reduced toxicity. We have developed a novel PEG-PE-based nanocarrier of doxorubicin that increased cytotoxicity in vitro and enhanced antitumor activity in vivo with low systemic toxicity. This drug packaging technology may provide a new strategy for design of cancer therapies.

Design, Synthesis, and Characterization of pH-Sensitive PEG−PE Conjugates for Stimuli-Sensitive Pharmaceutical Nanocarriers: The Effect of Substitutes at the Hydrazone Linkage on the pH Stability of PEG−PE Conjugates

A set of aliphatic and aromatic aldehyde-derived hydrazone (HZ)-based acid-sensitive polyethylene glycol-phosphatidylethanolamine (PEG-PE) conjugates was synthesized and evaluated for their hydrolytic stability at neutral and slightly acidic pH values. The micelles formed by aliphatic aldehyde-based PEG-HZ-PE conjugates were found to be highly sensitive to mildly acidic pH and reasonably stable at physiologic pH, while those derived from aromatic aldehydes were highly stable at both pH values. The pH-sensitive PEG-PE conjugates with controlled pH sensitivity may find applications in biological stimuli-mediated drug targeting for building pharmaceutical nanocarriers capable of specific release of their cargo at certain pathological sites in the body (tumors, infarcts) or intracellular compartments (endosomes, cytoplasm) demonstrating decreased pH.

Antinucleosome Antibody-Modified Liposomes and Lipid-Core Micelles for Tumor-Targeted Delivery of Therapeutic and Diagnostic Agents

Liposomes and lipid-core micelles prepared of polyethylene glycol-phosphatidylethanolamine (PEG-PE) conjugates have been modified with nucleosome-specific monoclonal antinuclear autoantibody (ANA) 2C5 (mAb 2C5) specifically recognizing a broad variety of cancer cells through the cancer cell surface-bound nucleosomes. mAb 2C5 preserves its specific properties upon the binding with the lipid-based pharmaceutical nanocarriers, and 2C5-modified immunoliposomes and immunomicelles demonstrate an enhanced binding with tumor cells both in vitro and in vivo. We have investigated the delivery of therapeutic and diagnostic agents with such tumor-targeted immunoliposomes and immunomicelles to various tumors in vivo and in vitro. Both lipid-based nanocarriers provided enhanced tumor delivery of imaging agents (111In) and antitumor drugs (doxorubicin and photodynamic therapy agents) to tumor cells under different experimental settings. Pharmaceutical lipid-based nanoparticular carriers modified with mAb 2C5 could represent universal systems for tumor-specific delivery of various soluble and insoluble pharmaceuticals.

Micellar Nanocarriers: Pharmaceutical Perspectives

Micelles, self-assembling nanosized colloidal particles with a hydrophobic core and hydrophilic shell are currently successfully used as pharmaceutical carriers for water-insoluble drugs and demonstrate a series of attractive properties as drug carriers. Among the micelle-forming compounds, amphiphilic copolymers, i.e., polymers consisting of hydrophobic block and hydrophilic block, are gaining an increasing attention. Polymeric micelles possess high stability both in vitro and in vivo and good biocompatibility, and can solubilize a broad variety of poorly soluble pharmaceuticals many of these drug-loaded micelles are currently at different stages of preclinical and clinical trials. Among polymeric micelles, a special group is formed by lipid-core micelles, i.e., micelles formed by conjugates of soluble copolymers with lipids (such as polyethylene glycol-phosphatidyl ethanolamine conjugate, PEG-PE). Polymeric micelles, including lipid-core micelles, carrying various reporter (contrast) groups may become the imaging agents of choice in different imaging modalities. All these micelles can also be used as targeted drug delivery systems. The targeting can be achieved via the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect (into the areas with the compromised vasculature), by making micelles of stimuli-responsive amphiphilic block-copolymers, or by attaching specific targeting ligand molecules to the micelle surface. Immunomicelles prepared by coupling monoclonal antibody molecules to p-nitrophenylcarbonyl groups on the water-exposed termini of the micelle corona-forming blocks demonstrate high binding specificity and targetability. This review will discuss some recent trends in using micelles as pharmaceutical carriers.

Polyethylene glycol–phosphatidylethanolamine conjugate (PEG–PE)-based mixed micelles: Some properties, loading with paclitaxel, and modulation of P-glycoprotein-mediated efflux

Mixed micelles prepared of poly(ethylene glycol)2000–phosphatidyl ethanolamine conjugate (PEG 2000–PE) and d-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS) in 1:1 molar ratio have been investigated. Micelle formation was confirmed by NMR spectroscopy. CMC of the micelles was found to be 1.5 × 10 −5 M. Poorly soluble anti-cancer drug paclitaxel (PCL) was efficiently solubilized in 15 nm non-toxic PEG–PE/TPGS micelles. PCL entrapment was quite stable with only about 20% of the incorporated drug released from micelles after 48 h at 37 °C. In addition, PCL-containing PEG 2000–PE/TPGS micelles were stable in vitro under various conditions modeling the physiological ones, in particular, at low pH values and in the presence of bile acids, which is especially important for their possible oral administration. Fluorescently labeled micelles demonstrated time-dependent internalization by human colon adenocarcinoma cell line, Caco-2. The internalization of PEG 2000–PE/TPGS micelles loaded with P-glycoprotein (P-gp) substrate, rhodamine-123 (RH-123), opposite to the internalization of the free RH-123, was not influenced by the inhibition of the P-gp pump with verapamil hydrochloride, which assumes a P-gp-independent micelle internalization.

Encapsulation of Plasmid DNA in Pegylated Liposome

The purpose of the study was to prepare the pegylated liposome carrying plasmid DNA with optimal encapsulation efficiency. Plasmid DNA (pCEP4 clone 790, 10.6 kb) was entrapped in the pegylated liposome composed of neutral lipid, POPC (l-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine), cationic lipid, DDAB (dimethyl dioctadecyl ammonium bromide) and anionic lipids, DSPE-PEG 2000 (distearoyl phosphatidyl ethanolamine polyethylene glycol 2000) and DSPE-PEG 2000-maleimide by freezing/thawing method. Free plasmid DNA was separated from the encapsulated one by Sepharose CL-4B column chromatography. The DNA amount encapsulated into the pegylated liposome was increased as cationic lipid concentration, initial amount of plasmid DNA and total lipid amount were increased.

Lipid-Core Micelles for Targeted Drug Delivery

Micelles, self-assembling nanosized colloidal particles with a hydrophobic core and hydrophilic shell are currently successfully used for the solubilization of various poorly soluble pharmaceuticals and demonstrate a series of attractive properties as drug carriers. Polymeric micelles, i.e. micelles formed by amphiphilic block co-polymers possess high stability both in vitro and in vivo and good biocompatibility. Among those micelles, lipid-core micelles, i.e. micelles formed by conjugates of soluble copolymers with lipids (such as polyethylene glycol-phosphatidyl ethanolamine conjugate, PEG-PE) are of special interest. These micelles can effectively solubilize a broad variety of poorly soluble drugs (anticancer drugs in particular) and diagnostic agents. Drug-loaded lipid-core micelles can spontaneously target body areas with compromised vasculature (tumors, infarcts) via the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect. Lipid-core mixed micelles containing certain specific components (such as positively charged lipids) are capable of escaping endosomes delivering incorporated drugs directly into the cell cytoplasm. Various specific targeting ligand molecules (such as antibodies) can be attached to the surface of the lipid-core micelles and bring drug-loaded micelles to and into target cells. Lipid-core micelles carrying various reporter (contrast) groups may become the imaging agents of choice in different imaging modalities.

Biodisposition of PEG-coated lipid microspheres of indomethacin in arthritic rats

Conventional lipid microspheres (LM) were prepared using soybean oil and lipid at a 5.5:1 weight ratio with lipid phase consisting of PC (phosphatidyl choline):CH (cholesterol) (1:0.5) by molar ratio. The average diameter of the particles was 150 nm. Long-circulating microspheres (S-LM) were also prepared similarly but the lipid phase consisted of PC:CH:DSPE-PEG (phosphatidyl choline:cholesterol:distearoyl phosphatidyl ethanolamine-polyethylene glycol) 1:0.5:0.16 by molar ratio. A comparative biodistribution study was conducted between free indomethacin and lipo-indomethacin (LM and S-LM) in the arthritic rats by administering the formulations at a dose equivalent to 12 mg of indomethacin/kg. It was observed that the free drug as well as the encapsulated drug followed biphasic clearance from the blood. Pharmacokinetic parameters, such as AUC 0- t , terminal half-life, MRT increased significantly when the drug was used in encapsulated form ( p < 0.05). Clearance of the drug was reduced 1.4 times with the conventional lipid microspheres and was reduced three-fold when encapsulated in polyethylene glycol-coated lipid microspheres. The overall drug targeting efficiency ( T e ) with the PEG-coated lipid microspheres was 7.5-fold higher than the conventional lipid microspheres. The high accumulation of the drug in arthritic paw with S-LM system may be accounted for by the reduced uptake by RES cells, and thereby, availability for extravascularization in the inflammatory tissues.

In vivo biodistribution of erythrocytes and polyethyleneglycol-phosphatidylethanolamine micelles carrying the antitumour agent dequalinium

Dequalinium (DQA), a lipophilic drug with anti-cancer activity has been incorporated into mouse red blood cells (DQA-RBCs) and polyethylene glycol phosphatidylethanolamine micelles (DQA-PEG-PE-micelles) in order to overcome the drug's solubility problems and to make it suitable for in vivo applications. The incorporation of DQA into erythrocytes, the release of DQA from RBCs in the presence of autologous plasma and the biodistribution of 51Cr-DQA-RBCs and 111In-DQA-PEG-PE micelles in mice has been studied. Under optimal conditions, up to 84.9% of 0.2 mM dequalinium can be incorporated into erythrocytes. The incubation of DQA-RBC with serum leads to the release of DQA over a period of 24 h. Since 51Cr-DQA-RBCs were found to have a long circulation half-life (5–6 days), the use of RBCs as a sustained release system for DQA can be suggested. In contrast to DQA containing erythrocytes, however, DQA loaded 111In-PEG-PE micelles displayed a shorter half-life (4 h) due to their quick uptake by the liver. The further exploration of PEG-PE micelles as a fast acting release system for DQA appears warranted.

Immunomicelles: targeted pharmaceutical carriers for poorly soluble drugs.

To prepare immunomicelles, new targeted carriers for poorly soluble pharmaceuticals, a procedure has been developed to chemically attach mAbs to reactive groups incorporated into the corona of polymeric micelles made of polyethylene glycol-phosphatidylethanolamine conjugates. Micelle-attached antibodies retained their ability to specifically interact with their antigens. Immunomicelles with attached antitumor mAb 2C5 effectively recognized and bound various cancer cells in vitro and showed an increased accumulation in experimental tumors in mice when compared with nontargeted micelles. Intravenous administration of tumor-specific 2C5 immunomicelles loaded with a sparingly soluble anticancer agent, taxol, into experimental mice bearing Lewis lung carcinoma resulted in an increased accumulation of taxol in the tumor compared with free taxol or taxol in nontargeted micelles and in enhanced tumor growth inhibition. This family of pharmaceutical carriers can be used for the solubilization and enhanced delivery of poorly soluble drugs to various pathological sites in the body.

Controlled destabilization of a liposomal drug delivery system enhances mitoxantrone antitumor activity.

Programmable fusogenic vesicles (PFVs) are lipid-based drug-delivery systems that exhibit time-dependent destabilization. The rate at which this destabilization occurs is determined by the exchange rate of a bilayer-stabilizing component, polyethylene glycol-phosphatidylethanolamine (PEG-PE) from the vesicle surface. This exchange rate is controlled, in turn, by the acyl chain composition of the PEG-PE. We describe in vitro and in vivo studies using PFVs as delivery vehicles for the anticancer drug mitoxantrone. We demonstrate that the PEG-PE acyl composition determined the rate at which PFVs are eliminated from plasma after intravenous administration, and the rate of mitoxantrone leakage from PFV. The nature of the PEG-PE component also determined the antitumor efficacy of mitoxantrone-loaded PFV in murine and human in murine and human xenograft tumor models. Increased circulation time and improved activity were obtained for PFV containing PEG-PE with an 18-carbon acyl chain length, as a result of slower vesicle destabilization.

A novel strategy affords high-yield coupling of antibody to extremities of liposomal surface-grafted PEG chains

Several methodologies for the preparation of polyethylene glycol-grafted immunoliposomes have been developed by attaching antibodies to the terminus of the polymer. Unilamellar liposomes were prepared containing a combination of a functionalized polyethylene glycol(3400) and an inert polyethylene glycol(2000) phosphatidylethanolamine derivate up to 5 mol%. The greater length of the functionalized polyethylene glycol derivate did not alter the liposomal sterical stability or the remote loading of doxorubicin. Anti-CD34 immunoliposomes were prepared by the reaction of maleimide-derivatized My10 antibody with generated thiol groups at the periphery of the liposomes and efficiencies of nearly 100% were obtained. The greater accessibility of the reactive group makes this strategy more efficient than others described. The immunoliposomes prepared bound specifically to CD34+ cells.

Poly(ethylene glycol)-lipid conjugates inhibit phospholipase C-induced lipid hydrolysis, liposome aggregation and fusion through independent mechanisms

Poly(ethylene glycol)-phosphatidylethanolamine (PEG-PE) conjugates have been introduced in liposomal compositions. The resulting large unilamellar vesicles were subjected to the action of phospholipaseC. Enzyme-promoted vesicle aggregation and fusion were assayed in liposomes containing various proportions of PEG-PE. At PEG-PE concentrations above 1 mol% the rate of phospholipid hydrolysis decreases, perhaps because the PEG moiety hinders the enzyme from reaching the membrane surface. At concentrations above 0.1 mol% vesicle aggregation occurs at a slower rate, presumably because of the repulsive barrier properties or surface-grafted PEG. Lipid mixing decreases in parallel with vesicle aggregation. Finally, liposomal fusion rates measured as mixing of vesicle aqueous contents are decreased at or even below 0.1 mol%. The latter inhibition is due, apart from the reduced rates of lipid hydrolysis, vesicle aggregation and lipid mixing, to a PEG-PE-based stabilization of the lipid bilayer structure. Thus the observed low rates of contents mixing arise from three combined and independent inhibitory effects of PEG-PE.