INCREASE OF LIPOSOME STABILITY BY INCORPORATION OF BOVINE SERUM-ALBUMIN

The incorporation of the bovine serum albumin in the liposomal membran e to prevent leakage of the entrapped contents was studied. Adsorption of bovine serum albumin was found on the liposomes. After the adsorpt ion of bovine serum albumin, by the addition of glutaraldehyde, the se rum albumin molecules crosslinked to themselves and stiffened the memb rane structure of the liposomes. it was found that the particle size o f the liposomes increased after the treatment of glutaraldehyde. Howev er, there was no significant change in particle size for the liposomes with the stirring effect. Adriamycin, methotrexate, carboxyfluorescei n and mitoxantrone were entrapped into this liposome system. The loadi ng efficiency demonstrated a similar value for the liposomes with and without the treatment of glutaraldehyde. However, for the entrapment o f adriamycin, there showed an increase in loading efficiency with the effect of glutaraldehyde. For the leakage examination, a decrease of t he release rate of the adriamycin, methotrexate and carboxyfluorescein from the glutaraldehyde treated liposomes was demonstrated; whereas, the prevention of leakage for the mitoxantrone was not significant.