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Biomedical subjects

Vladimir P Torchilin

Publications and source records attributed to Vladimir P Torchilin.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Monoclonal antibody 2C5-modified doxorubicin-loaded liposomes with significantly enhanced therapeutic activity against intracranial human brain U-87 MG tumor xenografts in nude mice.

Liposomes, modified with monoclonal antibodies, are suitable carriers for targeted delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs into brain tumors. Here, we investigate the therapeutic efficacy of monoclonal anticancer antibody 2C5-modified long-circulating liposomes (LCL) loaded with doxorubicin (2C5-DoxLCL) for the treatment of U-87 MG human brain tumors in an intracranial model in nude mice. In vitro, 2C5-DoxLCL is significantly more effective in killing the U-87 MG tumor cells than Doxil (commercial doxorubicin-loaded PEGylated LCL) or DoxLCL modified with a non-specific IgG. 2C5-immunoliposomes also demonstrate a significantly higher accumulation in U-87 MG tumors compared to all controls in a subcutaneous model. The treatment of intracranial U-87 MG brain tumors in nude mice with 2C5-DoxLCL provides a significant therapeutic benefit over control formulations, substantially reducing the tumor size and almost doubling the survival time. Thus, monoclonal antibody 2C5-modified LCL can specifically target the anticancer drugs to brain tumors, leading to improved therapeutic treatment of brain tumor in an intracranial model, in vivo.

Animals↗

Multifunctional nanocarriers.

Currently used pharmaceutical nanocarriers, such as liposomes, micelles, nanoemulsions, polymeric nanoparticles and many others demonstrate a broad variety of useful properties, such as longevity in the blood allowing for their accumulation in pathological areas with compromised vasculature; specific targeting to certain disease sites due to various targeting ligands attached to the surface of the nanocarriers; enhanced intracellular penetration with the help of surface-attahced cell-penetrating molecules; contrast properties due to the carrier loading with various contrast materials allowing for direct carrier visualization in vivo; stimuli-sensitivity allowing for drug release from the carriers under certain physiological conditions, and others. Some of those pharmaceutical carriers have already made their way into clinic, while others are still under preclinical development. What could be seen much more rare, however, are the pharmaceutical nanocarriers combining several from the listed abilities. Long-circulating immunoliposomes capable of prolonged residence in the blood and specific target recognition represent one of few examples of this kind. At the same time, the enginnering of multifunctional pharmaceutical nanocarriers combinig several useful preoperties in one particle can significantly enhance the efficacy of many therapeutic and diagnostic protocols. This paper considers current status and possible future directions in the emerging area of multifunctional nanocarriers with primary attention on the combination of such properties as longevity, targetability, intracellular penetration and contrast loading.

Drug Carriers↗

Enhanced accumulation of long-circulating liposomes modified with the nucleosome-specific monoclonal antibody 2C5 in various tumours in mice: gamma-imaging studies.

PURPOSE: To further improve tumour targeting and delivery of imaging agents by long-circulating liposomes via the coupling of the anti-cancer monoclonal antibody 2C5 with nucleosome-restricted activity, which can recognize the surface of various tumours but not normal cells and can specifically target pharmaceutical carriers to tumour cells in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: The 2C5 antibody was attached to the surface of long-circulating PEG-liposomes (LCL) by the post-insertion technique after antibody modification with a single-terminus activated PEG-lipid derivative to yield nucleosome-specific tumour-targeted liposomes. Tumour cell binding of the targeted liposomes was verified both by fluorescence microscopy and by flow cytometry in several cell lines using fluorescently labelled liposomes. 111In-radiolabelled liposomal formulations (prepared using membrane-anchored chelating groups) were used to examine in vivo biodistribution and tumour accumulation of liposomes by direct gamma scintigraphy. RESULTS: The 2C5 antibody-modified LCL demonstrated a three- to eightfold increase in in vitro specific cell binding to various cancer cell lines of diverse origin. 111In-labelled tumour-targeted liposomes demonstrated prolonged circulation and doubled tumour accumulation compared with that of control formulations. Whole-body gamma scintigraphic imaging of mice implanted with different tumours revealed markedly faster (6 h post injection for 2C5-LCL vs 24 h for non-specific analogues) and superior in vivo tumour visualization with 111In-2C5-LCL than with the 2C5-free formulations in tested tumour models. CONCLUSION: The 2C5 antibody-modified LCL effectively and specifically accumulate in various tumours and can serve as delivery vehicles for imaging agents, allowing for fast and efficient tumour visualization.

Animals↗

siRNA-containing liposomes modified with polyarginine effectively silence the targeted gene.

Development of RNA interference (RNAi) technology utilizing the short interfering RNA sequences (siRNA) based 'targeted' therapeutics has focused on creating methods for delivering siRNAs to cells and for enhancing siRNA stability in vitro and in vivo. Here, we describe a novel approach for siRNA cellular delivery using siRNA encapsulated into liposomes additionally bearing arginine octamer (R8) molecules attached to their outer surface (R8-liposomes). The R8-liposomal human double minute gene 2 (HDM2)-siRNA demonstrated a significant stability against degradation in the blood serum (siRNA-loaded R8-liposomes remained intact even after 24-h incubation), and higher transfection efficiency into all three tested lung tumor cell lines. siRNA delivery successfully proceeds in the presence of plasma proteins, and R8-liposomes demonstrate low non-specific toxicity. The mechanism of action of R8-liposome-encapsulated siRNA is associated with the RNAi-mediated degradation of the target mRNA. siRNA in R8-liposomes effectively inhibited the targeted gene and significantly reduced the proliferation of cancer cells. The approach offers the potential for siRNA delivery for various in vitro and in vivo applications.

Cell Line, Tumor↗

Polyethylene glycol-phosphatidylethanolamine conjugate (PEG-PE)-based mixed micelles: some properties, loading with paclitaxel, and modulation of P-glycoprotein-mediated efflux.

Mixed micelles prepared of poly(ethylene glycol)2000-phosphatidyl ethanolamine conjugate (PEG(2000)-PE) and d-alpha-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate (TPGS) in 1:1 molar ratio have been investigated. Micelle formation was confirmed by NMR spectroscopy. CMC of the micelles was found to be 1.5 x 10(-5)M. Poorly soluble anti-cancer drug paclitaxel (PCL) was efficiently solubilized in 15 nm non-toxic PEG-PE/TPGS micelles. PCL entrapment was quite stable with only about 20% of the incorporated drug released from micelles after 48 h at 37 degrees C. In addition, PCL-containing PEG(2000)-PE/TPGS micelles were stable in vitro under various conditions modeling the physiological ones, in particular, at low pH values and in the presence of bile acids, which is especially important for their possible oral administration. Fluorescently labeled micelles demonstrated time-dependent internalization by human colon adenocarcinoma cell line, Caco-2. The internalization of PEG(2000)-PE/TPGS micelles loaded with P-glycoprotein (P-gp) substrate, rhodamine-123 (RH-123), opposite to the internalization of the free RH-123, was not influenced by the inhibition of the P-gp pump with verapamil hydrochloride, which assumes a P-gp-independent micelle internalization.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Gadolinium-loaded polychelating polymer-containing cancer cell-specific immunoliposomes.

Liposome loading with Gd via the membrane-incorporated polychelating amphiphilic polymers (PAPs) significantly increases the Gd content and relaxivity (T1 parameter) of PEGylated liposomes, which can be used as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Here, we demonstrate that such Gd-containing liposomes can be additionally modified with the monoclonal anticancer antibody 2C5 (mAb 2C5) possessing the nucleosome(NS)-restricted specificity via the PEG spacer. Liposome-bound antibody preserves its specific activity (ELISA) and such Gd-loaded PEGylated 2C5-immunoliposomes specifically recognize various cancer cells in vitro and target an increased amount of Gd to their surface compared to antibody-free Gd-liposomes or Gd-liposomes modified with tumor nonspecific antibody. Gd-loaded cancer cell-targeted immunoliposomes may represent promising agents for enhanced tumor MRI.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

ATP-loaded immunoliposomes specific for cardiac myosin provide improved protection of the mechanical functions of myocardium from global ischemia in an isolated rat heart model.

Earlier demonstrated cardio-protection by ATP-loaded liposomes (ATP-L) was further improved by attachment of cardiac myosin-specific monoclonal 2G4 antibody onto the surface of ATP-L. ATP-IL were infused for 1 min duration before starting the global ischemia for 25 min followed by reperfusion for 30 min in an isolated rat heart. The left ventricular developed pressure at the end of reperfusion in ATP-IL group significantly recovered to above 80% of the baseline compared to ca 25% in the Kreb's-Henseleit (KH) buffer, ca 60% in the IL, and ca 70% in the ATP-L treated groups. At the end of the reperfusion, left ventricular end diastolic pressure significantly reduced to 15 +/- 2 mmHg in ATP-IL group compared to 59 +/- 6 mmHg in the KH buffer, 31 +/- 4 mmHg in the IL and 23 +/- 3 mmHg in the ATP-L controls. The extent of preservation depended on the amount of the antibody present on the surface of the ATP-IL.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Recent approaches to intracellular delivery of drugs and DNA and organelle targeting.

Intracellular delivery of various drugs, including DNA, and drug carriers can sharply increase the efficiency of various treatment protocols. However, the receptor-mediated endocytosis of drugs, drug carriers, and DNA results in their lysosomal delivery and significant degradation. The problem can be solved and therapy efficacy still further increased if the approaches for direct intracytoplasmic delivery that bypass the endocytic pathway are developed. This is especially important for many anticancer drugs (proapoptotic drugs whose primary action site is the mitochondrial membrane) and gene therapy (nuclear or mitochondrial genomes should be targeted). This review considers several current approaches for intracellular drug delivery: the use of pH-sensitive liposomes, the use of cell-penetrating proteins and peptides, and the use of immunoliposomes targeting intracellular antigens. Among intracellular targets, nuclei (gene therapy), mitochondria (proapoptotic cancer therapy and targeting of the mitochondrial genome), and lysosomes (lysosomal targeting of enzymes for the therapy of the lysosomal storage diseases) are considered. Examples of successful intracellular and organelle-specific delivery of biologically active molecules, including DNA, are presented; unanswered questions, challenges, and future trends are also discussed.

Animals↗

Transactivating transcriptional activator-mediated drug delivery.

Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are peptide vectors that can traverse through the plasma membrane barrier without breaching the integrity of the cell, and deliver various cargoes inside cell. The range of cargoes that can be delivered intracellularly by CPPs encompasses a broad variety of hydrophilic molecules, such as peptides, proteins, antibodies, imaging agents, DNA and even nanosized entities, including polymer-based systems, solid nanoparticles and liposomes. Multiple studies have focused on CPPs such as transactivating transcriptional activator peptide (TATp), penetratin, VP22, transportan and synthetic oligoarginines because of their high inherent potential as intracellular delivery vectors. However, the TATp remains the most popular CPP used for a variety of purposes. This review article attempts to bring together the available data on TAT-mediated intracellular uptake of a broad range of molecules and nanoparticles. It also considers potential practical applications of this approach.

Animals↗

Solubilization of poorly soluble PDT agent, meso-tetraphenylporphin, in plain or immunotargeted PEG-PE micelles results in dramatically improved cancer cell killing in vitro.

Poorly soluble photodynamic therapy (PDT) agent, meso-tetratphenylporphine (TPP), was effectively solubilized using non-targeted and tumor-targeted polymeric micelles prepared of polyethylene glycol/phosphatidyl ethanolamine conjugate (PEG-PE). Encapsulation of TPP into PEG-PE-based micelles and immunomicelles (bearing an anti-cancer monoclonal 2C5 antibody) resulted in significantly improved anticancer effects of the drug at PDT conditions against murine (LLC, B16) and human (MCF-7, BT20) cancer cells in vitro. For this purpose, the cells were incubated for 6 or 18 h with the TPP or TPP-loaded PEG-PE micelles/immunomicelles and then light-irradiated for 30 min. The phototoxic effect depended on the TPP concentration and specific targeting by immunomicelles. An increased level of apoptosis was shown in the PDT-treated cultures. The attachment of the anti-cancer 2C5 antibodies to TPP-loaded micelles provided the maximum level of cell killing at a given time. The results of this study showed that TPP-containing PEG-PE micelles may represent a useful formulation of the photosensitizer for practical PDT.

Animals↗

ATP-loaded liposomes effectively protect the myocardium in rabbits with an acute experimental myocardial infarction.

PURPOSE: We assessed whether the infusion of ATP-loaded liposomes (ATP-L) can limit the fraction of the irreversibly damaged myocardium in rabbits with an experimental myocardial infarction. METHODS: ATP-L, empty liposomes (EL), or Krebs-Henseleit (KH) buffer were administered by intracoronary infusion, followed by 30 min of occlusion and 3 h of reperfusion. Unisperse Blue dye was used to demarcate the net size of the occlusion-induced ischemic zone (area at risk) and nitroblue tetrazolium staining was used to detect the final fraction of the irreversibly damaged myocardium within the total area at risk. RESULTS: The total size of the area at risk in all experimental animals was approx. 20% wt. of the left ventricle. The final irreversible damage in ATP-L-treated animals was only ca. 30% of the total area at risk as compared with ca. 60% in the group treated with EL (p < 0.009) and ca. 70% in the KH buffer-treated group (p < 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: ATP-L effectively protected the ischemic heart muscle in rabbits with an experimental myocardial infarction as evidenced by a significantly decreased fraction of the irreversibly damaged heart within the total area at risk. ATP-L may provide an effective exogenous source of the ATP in vivo to protect ischemically damaged cells.

Acute Disease↗

Quantum dots spectrally distinguish multiple species within the tumor milieu in vivo.

A solid tumor is an organ composed of cancer and host cells embedded in an extracellular matrix and nourished by blood vessels. A prerequisite to understanding tumor pathophysiology is the ability to distinguish and monitor each component in dynamic studies. Standard fluorophores hamper simultaneous intravital imaging of these components. Here, we used multiphoton microscopy techniques and transgenic mice that expressed green fluorescent protein, and combined them with the use of quantum dot preparations. We show that these fluorescent semiconductor nanocrystals can be customized to concurrently image and differentiate tumor vessels from both the perivascular cells and the matrix. Moreover, we used them to measure the ability of particles of different sizes to access the tumor. Finally, we successfully monitored the recruitment of quantum dot-labeled bone marrow-derived precursor cells to the tumor vasculature. These examples show the versatility of quantum dots for studying tumor pathophysiology and creating avenues for treatment.

Animals↗

Fluorescence microscopy to follow the targeting of liposomes and micelles to cells and their intracellular fate.

Fluorescence microscopy may provide important information regarding interactions between nanoparticulate drugs carriers, such as liposomes and micelles, with target cells as well as their intracellular fate. Current paper describes various applications of fluorescence microscopy to investigate specific targeting of antibody-modified drug carriers to cancer cells. The enhanced antibody-mediated targeting of drug-loaded immunomicelles confirmed by fluorescence microscopy resulted in enhanced cancer cell killing compared to free drug or drug-loaded nontargeted micelles. Fluorescence microscopy was also used to prove the endosomal escape of properly assembled polymeric micelles (based on polyethylene glycol-phosphatidylethanolamine conjugate, PEG-PE) containing various additives destabilizing the endosomal membrane. When loaded with the anticancer drug (paclitaxel or vitamin K3), such micelles demonstrate increased cytotoxicity. Fluorescence microscopy was also applied to investigate the capture of cell-penetrating TAT peptide-modified liposomes by various cells and stability and intracellular trafficking of captured TAT-liposomes inside cells. It was also used to confirm the successful transfection of cells with TAT-liposomes bearing the plasmid encoding for the Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP).

Adenocarcinoma↗

Recent advances with liposomes as pharmaceutical carriers.

Liposomes - microscopic phospholipid bubbles with a bilayered membrane structure - have received a lot of attention during the past 30 years as pharmaceutical carriers of great potential. More recently, many new developments have been seen in the area of liposomal drugs - from clinically approved products to new experimental applications, with gene delivery and cancer therapy still being the principal areas of interest. For further successful development of this field, promising trends must be identified and exploited, albeit with a clear understanding of the limitations of these approaches.

Animals↗

Polymeric micelles for delivery of poorly soluble drugs: preparation and anticancer activity in vitro of paclitaxel incorporated into mixed micelles based on poly(ethylene glycol)-lipid conjugate and positively charged lipids.

Paclitaxel-loaded mixed polymeric micelles consisting of poly(ethylene glycol)-distearoyl phosphoethanolamine conjugates (PEG-PE), solid triglycerides (ST), and cationic Lipofectin lipids (LL) have been prepared. Micelles with the optimized composition (PEG-PE/ST/LL/paclitaxel = 12/12/2/1 by weight) had an average micelle size of about 100 nm, and zeta-potential of about -6 mV. Micelles were stable and did not release paclitaxel when stored at 4 degree C in the darkness (just 2.9% of paclitaxel have been lost after 4 months with the particle size remaining unchanged). The release of paclitaxel from such micelles at room temperature was also insignificant. However, at 37 degree C, approx. 16% of paclitaxel was released from PEG-PE/ST/LL/paclitaxel micelles in 72 h, probably, because of phase transition in the ST-containing micelle core. In vitro anticancer effects of PEG-PE/ST/LL/paclitaxel and control micelles were evaluated using human mammary adenocarcinoma (BT-20) and human ovarian carcinoma (A2780) cell lines. Paclitaxel in PEG-PE/ST/LL micelles demonstrated the maximum anti-cancer activity. Cellular uptake of fluorescently-labeled paclitaxel-containing micelles by BT-20 cells was investigated using a fluorescence microscopy. It seems that PEG-PE/ST/LL micelles, unlike micelles without the LL component, could escape from endosomes and enter the cytoplasm of BT-20 cancer cells thus increasing the anticancer efficiency of the micellar paclitaxel.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Monoclonal antibody 2C5-mediated binding of liposomes to brain tumor cells in vitro and in subcutaneous tumor model in vivo.

This study aimed to investigate the monoclonal antibody (mAb) 2C5 with nucleosome-restricted specificity for its ability to specifically recognize human brain tumor cells and to serve as a specific ligand for liposome targeting to brain tumor cells in vitro and in vivo. The affinity of mAb 2C5 towards brain tumor cells was tested by flow cytometry. The interaction of 2C5-immunoliposomes (ILS) with brain tumor cells in vitro was studied by fluorescence microscopy. For in vivo accumulation studies, (111)In-ILS were administered i.v. into mice bearing subcutaneously grown brain tumor. mAb 2C5 was found to be reactive against several tested brain tumor cell lines. mAb 2C5 and 2C5-ILS demonstrated enhanced cell-surface binding with CCF-STTG1,U-87 MG and LN-18 cells in vitro. 2C5-ILS displayed significantly better accumulation in the subcutaneously grown brain tumor than non-specific control IgG-ILS. mAb 2C5 specifically recognizes brain tumor cells and can serve as a ligand to target drug carriers such as liposomes to brain tumor cells in vivo.

Animals↗

Mitochondriotropic liposomes.

Mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to a large variety of human disorders, ranging from neurodegenerative and neuromuscular diseases, obesity, and diabetes to ischemia-reperfusion injury and cancer. Increasing pharmacological efforts toward therapeutic interventions have been made leading to the emergence of "Mitochondrial Medicine" as a new field of biomedical research. The identification of molecular mitochondrial drug targets in combination with the development of methods for selectively delivering biologically active molecules to the site of mitochondria will eventually launch a multitude of new therapies for the treatment of mitochondria-related diseases, which are based either on the selective protection, repair, or eradication of cells. Yet, while tremendous efforts are being undertaken to identify new mitochondrial drugs and drug targets, the development of mitochondria-specific drug carrier systems is lagging behind. To ensure a high efficiency of current and future mitochondrial therapeutics, delivery systems need to be developed, which are able to selectively transport biologically active molecules to and into mitochondria within living human cells. In this study we present the first data demonstrating that conventional liposomes can be rendered mitochondria-specific via the attachment of known mitochondriotropic residues to the liposomal surface.

Bromides↗