Liposomes and L-cysteine in the treatment of respiratory diseases

PERROTTA, RAMIRO; FERNANDEZ RUOCCO MARIA JULIETA; SIRI, MACARENA; CHIARAMONI, NADIA SILVIA; ALONSO, SILVIA DEL VALLE

Carlos Paz, Cordoba

Congreso; XLII Reunión Anula de la Sociedad Argentina de Biofísica; 2013

Sociedad Argentina de Biofísica

Respiratory diseases are very common and affect a large proportion of the population worldwide. For therapeutic agents to reach the target cells is essential to bypass the barriers of the lung architecture. With the main goal to overpass these barriers and destabilize them, we developed lipid transporters that can encapsulate L-cysteine This amino acid, with sulfur in its structure may break the disulfide bonds of the epithelial barrier and disrupt mucus network [1]. These lipid transporters were formulated with polymerizable lipid DC8,9PC mixed with DMPC . When irradiated with UV light DC8, 9PC has the ability to form conjugated double bonds increasing stability [2, 3]. Transporters were formulated with two amino acid concentrations: 10 and 50 mol % (relative to lipid). In order to characterize these systems we studied the polymerization efficiency and the hydrophobic defects in the bilayer surface. Interactions were analyzed by FTIR. We found that increasing amino acid concentration, polymerization efficiency decreases presumably due to increased hydrophobic surface defects. FTIR data obtained confirmed that the L-cysteine interacts strongly with the liposome surface. The design formulation should be considered as a strong candidate to overcome the mucus barrier. To confirm this efficiency in vivo testing is going to be carried out in the Laboratory of Dr. Marcelo Morales (UFRJ, Brazil).