Liposomes are effective medicinal nanocarriers due to their ability to encapsulate and deliver a range of therapeutic cargo. While liposome formulations have been approved for clinical use, delivery properties would be improved by enhancing control over the release of contents as well as diseased-cell selective delivery. Toward this end, research has focused on using either pathophysiological conditions (passive release such as pH, redox or enzyme overexpression) or external stimuli (active release such as light, heat and ultrasound) to control release. We have been seeking to expand this toolbox by exploiting molecular recognition events to trigger liposome delivery and content release based on the chemical makeup of diseased cells. We will describe designer liposomes containing synthetic lipid switches that undergo conformational changes that trigger release of liposomal contents upon the binding of target molecules. This will include the design and synthesis of lipid switches, liposome release assays, analysis of changes in liposome properties upon target binding, and cellular delivery studies. This work provides promising strategies for enhancing the ability to control liposome targeting and release in drug delivery applications.

Liposome delivery and release driven by molecular recognition

2019 Spring National Meeting

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