I. ROATEŞI, T. SAVOPOL, MIHAELA G. MOISESCU, EUGENIA KOVACS

Biophysics and Cell Biotechnology Dept., “Carol Davila” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, PO Box 35-43, Bucharest, Romania

Abstract. Liposomes can be modified and functionalized with different ligands to control their biological properties, such as longevity, targeting ability, and intracellular penetration, in a desired fashion (for example in photodynamic therapy). The aim of this study was to obtain functionalized liposomes with apolipoprotein ApoB100 ligand to achieve active intracellular targeted delivery via LDL-receptor, by naturally occurring endocytotic pathway. Human malignant melanoma A375 cells were used as model cells for in vitro evaluation of cellular endocytosis efficiency. The functionalized ApoB100-liposomes were incubated with cultured cells. Incubation periods of 2 and 4 hours were used to obtain ligand-receptor cellular endocytosis and fluorescence expression was evaluated. The functionalized liposomes displayed remarkably higher intracellular transfection efficiency comparatively to simple liposomal suspension. Liposomes functionalized with ApoB100 protein could function as excellent active targeting ligands and could be promising vectors for active targeted photosensitizer delivery in photodynamic therapy.
Key words: liposome delivery, active targeting, functionalized liposomes, ApoB100, endocytosis.

Corresponding author’s e-mail: iurie@umf.ro

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