Preparation of Methylene Blue-containing Nanoliposomes and Determination of Stability, Biological Distribution and Drug Release after Sonication by 1 MHz Ultrasound Waves

Authors
A. Ebrahiminia 1
M. Mokhtari-Dizaji 2
T. Toliyat 3
1 Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Medical Physics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
2 Professor, Department of Medical Physics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
3 Associated Professor, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
Objective: In order to overcome the limitation of systemic administration of methylene blue, this study investigated the encapsulation of methylene blue in polymeric liposomes and drug release following sonication. Methods: We encapsulated methylene blue into nanoliposomes. The dynamic light scattering (DLS) method was used to measure the size distribution of the liposomes. After loading methylene blue into these liposomes, both drug encapsulation efficiency and stability were fluorometrically determined. Biodistribution of drug was studied in vivo in a mouse model of adenocarcinoma tumor cells. The amount of drug released upon 1 MHz sonication at an intensity of 2 W/cm2 was fluorometrically verified in vitro. Results: DLS studies showed that the synthesized liposomes had an average size of 66.19±4.49 nm. Methylene blue was efficiently encapsulated in nanoparticles at an average of 65.21±3.47%. Stability of the generated liposomes decreased with time. Biodistribution study revealed that the drug content in the group that received liposomal drugs in their tumor tissue was significantly higher than in the group that received methylene blue in its free form and in the heart was inverse (PConclusion: This study has shown that fabricated liposomes are suitable for the encapsulation and delivery of hydrophilic photosensitizers such as methylene blue. Ultrasound-triggered release was achieved by the use of a 1 MHz ultrasound.

Keywords

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Pathobiology Reserach
Volume 15, Issue 2
June 2012
Pages 11-22