Browsing by Subject "ICG"
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(2020)Liposomes are nano-sized vesicles, that are composed of a phospholipid bilayer structure. They can be utilized as drug carriers, in which case the drug is incorporated either to their hydrophilic internal cavity, or into their hydrophobic bilayer structure. For anticancer drugs, liposomal formulations have exhibited their capability in reducing adverse effects of anticancer drugs. This is achieved mainly by the enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect, in which liposomes accumulate into tumour tissue. However, the conventional liposomes release their drug content passively, and a proportion of drug is distributed to off-target tissues. Therefore, there is a demand to develop liposomes from which the content can be released in a controlled manner, by an external stimulus. The objectives of this master’s thesis project were to determine the potential of light-activated paclitaxel (PTX) liposomes for the treatment of lung cancer, and to optimize a dynamic cell culture system, QuasiVivo® (QV), to study the off-target effects of light-activated PTX liposomes. The hypothesis was that the induction of the light-activated PTX liposomes would increase the efficiency of paclitaxel treatment. For QV experiments, it was expected that the presence of flow would improve the viability of the cells. The encapsulation efficiency of PTX into the liposomes and the effect of the PTX incorporation into the phase transition temperature of the liposomes were determined. The stability of liposomes was determined by monitoring the liposomal size and light sensitizer absorbance during a storage period. The cells of lung cancer cell line A549 were cultured inside QV system, and their viability was monitored with two commercial cell viability assays. Incorporation of PTX decreased the phase transition temperature, but the liposomes remained stable in the studied conditions. The PTX liposome treatments with and without light activation resulted in the similar efficacy as free PTX treatment did. A549 cells failed to display superior viability inside the QV compared to static conditions. Cells cultured under lower flow rate portrayed modestly higher viability. The light-activated PTX liposomes did not improve the efficacy of PTX treatment. Neither of the flow rates were optimal for A549 cells, as the variation between experiments was high. The EPR effect is the main reason for the improved effects of liposomal anticancer drugs, therefore, it is likely that in vivo experiments would elicit the differences between the efficacy of the liposomal and free PTX. The non-existent effects of light activation on the viability are likely caused by the low total concentration of the light sensitizer in the treatment solution.
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(2017)Liposomes are spherical nano-sized drug delivery systems which are composed of lipid bilayer. With liposomes drugs can be targeted for example to tumours and targeting can be passive or active. Drug release from liposomes can also be activated by different methods. Light is very promising triggering method, because it enables drug release at specific time and site. This study examined light activated indocyanine green (ICG) liposomes. Drug release from liposomes happens because ICG converts light energy to heat. ICG is clinically approved imaging agent, so ICG liposomes are very promising drug delivery systems even for clinical use. Liposomes were prepared by thin-film hydration method. One aim of the study was to prepare as small ICG-liposomes as possible. The bigger 100 nm liposomes were studied in three different formulations and the purpose was to find differences between those formulations. In formulation A ICG was in PEGs, in formulation B ICG was in lipid bilayer with no PEGs and in formulation C ICG was supposed to be in lipid bilayer although the formulation C included PEGs. In this study, the cell up take of ICG liposomes was studied with pharmacokinetic model and data from in vitro studies was supposed to use in a pharmacokinetic model. In this study, it was possible to prepare 40 nm sized ICG-liposomes. Small liposomes did not release encapsulated calsein as well as bigger 100 nm liposomes. The decreased release from smaller liposomes was probably explained by the results witch pointed out that transition temperature of small liposomes was higher than transition temperature of bigger liposomes. In the future, the lipid composition of the small liposomes need to be reoptimized, that the release would be more effective. This study however proved that small ICG-liposomes can be prepared and the small size lasts even over three months. Three different formulations of 100 nm liposomes were studied and the differences between the properties of the formulations were found. ICG in the lipid bilayer changed properties of the formulation B and the passive release of the calsein and release during the lightning were increased. In formulation C transition temperature was decreased and its storage life was lower than in other formulations. Formulation A was best for the next studies and the phospholipid composition of other formulations need to be optimated that drug release and storage life would be good enough. Intracellular release properties of liposomes were studied with Sytox red probe. Fluorescence of Sytox red increases when it binds with DNA or RNA. With this study, it was proved that liposomes release Sytox red inside the cells and that the lightning time affects to the release. The results weren't useable for pharmacokinetic model, so the model was made based by literature. Pharmacokinetic model can be used in the future studies and different in vitro or in vivo results can be combined with the model.
Now showing items 1-2 of 2