Design of ultradeformable liposomes as nanovehicles for phthalocyanines

MONTANARI, JORGE; PEREZ, ANA P-; DI SALVO, FLORENCIA; DOCTOROVICH, FABIO; MORILLA, MARÍA J; ROMERO, EDER

Pinamar, Argentina

Congreso; XLI Reunión Anual de SAIB; 2005

SAIB

With the aim of developing a novel therapy against cutaneous leishmaniasis we combined photodynamic theraphy with a nano-controlled release system capable of experience locomotion towards leishmania-infected macrophages in the deeper layers of epidermis. We developed ultradeformable liposomes (UD) loaded with two zinc phthalocyanines (ZnPc) as photosensitizers, to be used as vehicles able to squeeze through the skin barriers such as nanopores and stratum corneum. The UD were prepared by resuspension of a film made by evaporation of Phospholipon-90 and Sodium Cholate (border activator), followed by sonication and extrusion. ZnPc were incorporated at different stages depending on their hydrophobic or hydrophilic nature. Ultradeformability was tested by submitting UD under pressure through a 50nm-pore filter, and citotoxicity was tested on Vero cells. We found that both ZnPcs were incorporated into UD without altering their ultradeformability, and that viability of cells was not significatively affected by UD containing ZnPc until up to a concentration of 1 mM of the photosensitizer.