Increase of Liposome Stability by Incorporation of Bovine Serum Albumin

Abstract

The incorporation of the bovine serum albumin in the liposomal membrane to prevent leakage of the entrapped contents was studied. Adsorption of bovine serum albumin was found on the liposomes. After the adsorption of bovine serum albumin, by the addition of glutaraldehyde, the serum albumin molecules cross-linked to themselves and stiffened the membrane structure of the liposomes. It was found that the particle size of the liposomes increased after the treatment of glutaraldehyde. However, there was no significant change in particle size for the liposomes with the stirring effect. Adriamycin, methotrexate, carboxyfluorescein and mitoxantrone were entrapped into this liposome system. The loading efficiency demonstrated a similar value for the liposomes with and without the treatment of glutaraldehyde. However, for the entrapment of adriamycin, there showed an increase in loading efficiency with the effect of glutaraldehyde. For the leakage examination, a decrease of the release rate of the adriamycin, methotrexate and carboxyfluorescein from the glutaraldehyde treated liposomes was demonstrated; whereas, the prevention of leakage for the mitoxantrone was not significant.