Bixin liposomes as drug delivery system for antineoplastic drugs

• Grant number: 11/21544-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2012
• End date: December 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy
• Principal Investigator: Irene Satiko Kikuchi
• Grantee: Rafael Teruiti de Oliveira Takamoto
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Present drugs used on cancer therapy have been shown some drawbacks such as low bioavailability and selectivity. High dosage chemotherapy increases risk of side effects, including healthy cells damage. To overcome these limitations, several drug delivery systems have been developed, as liposomes. On the present project, liposomes based on the carotenoid Bixin will be evaluated as a drug carrier. Bixin liposomes will be loaded with Daunorubicin or Paclitaxel, as test drugs. The cell lines used as experimental models will be MCF-7 and A549, derived from breast and lung tumors, respectively. Cell viability will be evaluated after interaction with drug-loaded bixin lipossomes, free drug and commercial liposomal formulations. Thus, a relationship between cell proliferation inhibition and drug delivery will be investigated. Cell death processes resulting from drug interaction will be analyzed by Flow Cytometry, determining whether the formulation caused either necrosis or apoptosis. Physical-chemical characteristics such as particle size, Zeta potential and size distribution will be determined for drug-loaded bixin liposomes, empty liposomes and commercial liposomal formulations.(AU)