EFFECT OF COMPOSITION AND METHOD OF PREPARATION OF LIPOSOMES ON THEIRSTABILITY AND INTERACTION WITH MURINE MONOCYTES INFECTED WITH BRUCELLA-ABORTUS

The success of the use of liposomes as drug carriers depends on both t heir formulation and the method of preparation, We have carried out a series of in vitro studies using different formulations and preparatio n methods, with the aim of obtaining a type of liposome which is effic ient in the treatment of brucellosis. On the basis of results obtained in studies of stability at 37 degrees C in the presence of serum lipo proteins and of the activation of phagocytic cells and antibiotic tran sport to the interior of monocytes infected with Brucella abortus, we conclude that the most suitable vesicles are positively charged, stabl e plurilamellar vesicles (phosphatidylcholine, 30% cholesterol, and 10 % stearylamine), Gentamicin incorporated into these cationic liposomes completely eliminated all of the intracellular Brucella organisms (4. 6 logs), while free gentamicin was capable of reducing the number of i ntracellular bacteria by only 0.3 log.