Abstract
Aim: In this study, the effects of liposome characteristics on oral absorption of doxorubicin, as a hydrophilic low-permeability drug, were investigated. Materials & methods: Different doxorubicin-loaded liposomes were prepared, characterized and orally administered to 18 groups of rats. Plasma concentrations of doxorubicin and its aglycone metabolite were measured, and Caco-2 uptake and transport of optimum liposomes were investigated. Results: After studying different factors, a fourfold increase in oral bioavailability was achieved with the non-PEGylated, 120-nm-sized positively charged rigid liposomes (lipid to drug ratio = 10). The extent of drug’s first-pass metabolism as well as endocytosis of nanoparticles were markedly affected by liposomal formulation. Conclusion: Oral absorption is highly dependent on liposomal properties, and optimum formulations are effective for low-permeability drugs.
Supplementary data
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Financial & competing interests disclosure
This work was supported by a grant from Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.
Ethical conduct of research
The authors state that they have obtained appropriate institutional review board approval or have followed the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki for all human or animal experimental investigations.