Lipidic Liquid Crystalline Cubic Phases and Magnetocubosomes as Methotrexate Carriers

Abstract

The release profiles of methotrexate, an anticancer drug, from the monoolein liquid crystalline cubic phases were studied. The cubic phases were used either in the form of a lipidic film deposited onto a glassy carbon electrode surface or in the dispersed form of magnetocubosomes, which are considered a prospective hybrid drug delivery system. Commonly, cubosomes or liposomes are employed, but not in the case of toxic methotrexate, known to block the receptors responsible for folate transport into the cells. The release profiles of the drug from the lipidic films were monitored electrochemically and described using the Higuchi model. They were also modified via changes in temperature; the release was faster, although it deviated from the model when the temperature was increased. Cubic phase nanoparticles (magnetocubosomes) containing hydrophobic magnetic nanoparticles placed in an alternating magnetic field of low frequency and amplitude, stimulated drug release from the suspension, which was monitored spectroscopically. These new biocompatible hybrid nanomaterials in the dispersed form allow to control the release of the drug at the appropriate sites, can be easily separated or relocated under external magnetic field and await further investigations of their in vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo biodistribution.

Lipidic Cubic-Phase Nanoparticles (Cubosomes) Loaded with Doxorubicin and Labeled with 177Lu as a Potential Tool for Combined Chemo and Internal Radiotherapy for Cancers

“…This is the first study on bifunctional cubosomes containing anticancer chemotherapeutic and a radionuclide complex, and is an extension of our previous reports on monofunctional cubosomes [ 19 , 34 ]. The results of this study lead us to conclude that the gain in cytotoxicity achieved by combining chemotherapeutic agent, doxorubicin with the β-emitting radionuclide complex, DOTAGA-OA- 177 Lu in a single cubosomal carrier is small, and the cytotoxicity enhancement becomes statistically significant only after shorter incubation times (e.g., 24 h).…”

“…They have large interfacial areas of 400 m 2 /g to anchor the drugs, and their structures consist of a bicontinuous lipid bilayer surrounding two systems of non-contacting aqueous channels [ 14 ]. A wide range of drugs can be encapsulated within this biocompatible amphiphilic environment, which resembles a biological membrane [ 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ]. Cubic phases are stable in the presence of excess of water and can be dispersed in the presence of a stabilizer into kinetically stable colloidal nanoparticles, or cubosomes.…”

Composition-Switchable Liquid Crystalline Nanostructures as Green Formulations of Curcumin and Fish Oil

“…As a matter of fact, increased bioavailability of active ingredients will essentially diminish the need for drug elimination and thus will prevent the risk for the environment. Due to their safety, high efficacy for drug nanoencapsulation, and low immunogenicity, lipid-based liquid crystalline carriers are gaining considerable interest in recent years. − They are thermodynamically stable and permit the development of sustained drug delivery systems in nanomedicine. − …”

Synchrotron Characterization of Hexagonal and Cubic Lipidic Phases Loaded with Azolate/Phosphane Gold(I) Compounds: A New Approach to the Uploading of Gold(I)-Based Drugs

“…[ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. More recently, cubosome and hexosome systems, in which the lipid bilayers are arranged in periodic two and three dimensional lattice structures, represent attractive smart delivery matrices for drugs and/or diagnostic agents with different water affinity [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]. The latter structures have received increasing attention due to their properties, such as size, structure, and stability; ability to be tuned by their internal composition, polymer concentration, and processing conditions; and their ability to accommodate relatively large loads (drug or proteins).…”