Development of Temperature Sensitive Liposomes for targeted Drug Delivery

Hyperthermia and the liposomal drug delivery have been extensively evaluated in the past decades for drug delivery. More recently, these technologies have been used together in clinical trials. As an initial evaluation, luciferin was encapsulated in the liposome to provided release characteristics after heating. We have developed, through an easy and accurate process, temperature sensitive stable liposomes that release their drug content upon local heating. Different formulations have given very encouraging results for the stability and release profiles after heating in vitro in presence different buffers, serum and cells. In addition, these formulations have been shown to be non-toxic in vitro. The long-term goal of this project is to use focused ultrasound to heat and release chemotherapy in tumor lesions using targeted, heat-sensitive liposomes.