Polymerized phospholipid vesicles containing amphotericin B: evaluation of toxic and antifungal activities in vitro.

We have prepared lipid vesicles (liposomes) composed of polymerized bis[12-(methacryloyloxy)dodecanoyl]-L-alpha-phosphatidylcholine (DPL) which contain the antifungal polyene antibiotic amphotericin B (AMB). It was necessary to devise a novel method for incorporating AMB into the liposomes subsequent to polymerization. The polymer liposome AMB was as effective as AMB in "conventional" liposomes in terms of inhibiting fungal growth in vitro. However, in contrast to "conventional" liposomes, the polymerized DPL vesicles did not protect mammalian cells against AMB induced toxicity.