EFFECT OF SOYBEAN-DERIVED STEROLS ON THE IN-VITRO STABILITY AND THE BLOOD-CIRCULATION OF LIPOSOMES IN MICE

The stability and long lifetime in blood circulation of liposomes are important when using them as a reservoir for drugs. A soybean-derived sterol mixture (SS) was used to stabilize and extend the blood circula tion lifetime of liposomes. In the present study, the effects of SS on the stability and lifetime in blood of liposomes entrapping calcein w ere investigated by measuring the leakage of calcein and the concentra tion of calcein in blood. The results indicate that SS has a greater a bility to stabilize the DPPC liposomes than cholesterol which is usual ly used as a stabilizer. The stabilizing effect was greatest at a mola r ratio of DPPC and SS of 7:4.