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. 2005 May;94(5):1024-38.
doi: 10.1002/jps.20332.

Optimization and characterization of a sphingomyelin/cholesterol liposome formulation of vinorelbine with promising antitumor activity

Sean C Semple  1 , Robert Leone, Jinfang Wang, Esther C Leng, Sandra K Klimuk, Merete L Eisenhardt, Zuan-Ning Yuan, Katarina Edwards, Norbert Maurer, Michael J Hope, Pieter R Cullis, Quet-Fah Ahkong
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Optimization and characterization of a sphingomyelin/cholesterol liposome formulation of vinorelbine with promising antitumor activity

Sean C Semple et al. J Pharm Sci. 2005 May.

Abstract

Vinorelbine (VRL) is a particularly lipophilic member of the vinca alkaloids which, as a class of drugs, exhibit improved cytotoxicity and therapeutic activity through increased duration of exposure. Here, we describe and optimize a sphingomyelin/cholesterol (SM/Chol) liposome formulation of VRL to maximize in vivo drug retention, plasma circulation time, and therapeutic activity. VRL was efficiently encapsulated (>90%) into 100 nm liposomes using an ionophore-mediated loading method. VRL retention in SM/Chol liposomes after intravenous injection in mice was dependent on drug-to-lipid ratio (D/L), with higher D/L ratios exhibiting increased drug retention (0.3 > 0.2 > 0.1, wt/wt) and improved pharmacokinetics. Cryo-electron microscopic examination of a high D/L ratio formulation indicated that the intravesicular regions of these liposomes were electron dense compared with empty liposomes. The optimized, high D/L ratio SM/Chol VRL formulation showed promising activity against subcutaneous B16 melanoma tumors compared with VRL or SM/Chol formulations of vincristine or vinblastine. Finally, the stability of the formulation was excellent (<5% drug leakage, >99% intact VRL, no changes in liposome size after 1 year at 2-8 degrees C). The optimized drug retention properties of the SM/Chol formulation of VRL, combined with its promising antitumor activity and pharmaceutical stability, make this formulation an excellent candidate for future clinical development.

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