7-acetoxycoumarin dimer-incorporated and folate-decorated liposomes: photoresponsive release and in vitro targeting and efficacy.

Photoresponsive and cancer cell (KB cell)-targetable liposome was developed by incorporating 7-acetoxycoumarin dimer (ACD) in the liposomal membrane and modifying the surface of liposome with folate. The liposomes were prepared from the dry mixed thin film of egg phosphatidylcholine (EPC), ACD, and folate conjugate (DSPE-PEG2000-folate) by a film hydration method, where the molar ratios of EPC/ACD/DSPE-PEG2000-folate were 10/0/0, 9/1/0, 9/1/0.05, and 9/0/0.05. The liposomal membranes were multilamellar and the diameter was on the order of hundreds of nanometers. The release degrees in 60 min of 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (CF) from EPC/ACD/DSPE-PEG2000-folate liposome were less than 4% without the irradiation of UV light (λ = 254 nm, 6 W), but more than 20% under the irradiation of UV light (λ = 254 nm, 6W), possibly due to the phototriggered de-dimerization of ACD. Under confocal laser scanning microscopy, KB cells treated with EPC/ACD/DSPE-PEG2000-folate liposomes exhibited CF fluorescence of liposomes at the positions where 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) fluorescence of the cell nucleus was shown, indicating the liposomes targeted the cancer cells. In flow cytometric analysis, the cancer cells treated with EPC/ACD/DSPE-PEG2000-folate liposomes exhibited much higher fluorescence than the untreated cells did, indicating that there was a specific interaction between the liposome and the cancer cell. With the irradiation of UV light, EPC/ACD/DSPE-PEG2000-folate liposomes markedly promoted the in vitro anti-cancer efficacy of DOX without causing acute in vitro toxicity.