Altaher Summay, Alshaer Walhan, Al Adaileh Fedaa, Nsairat Hamdi, Alsotari Shrouq, Rababah Majdoleen H, Al Bawab Abeer, Odeh Fadwa
Department of Chemistry, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
Cell Therapy Center, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan.
Sci Prog. 2025 Apr-Jun;108(2):368504251334687. doi: 10.1177/00368504251334687. Epub 2025 Apr 17.
Liposomes, which are bilayer lipidic nanocarriers, have been utilized in many pharmaceutical applications to enhance the solubility and therapeutic index of drugs. Liposomes have also been used as carriers for smaller drug carriers, such as cucurbiturils, to achieve a more controlled release of the drug into the targeted site in the body. In this study, we investigated the effects of cucurbit[7]uril, a macrocyclic organic compound, on the integrity of liposome lipid membranes. The average liposome size, measured by dynamic light scattering, increased with increasing concentrations of cucurbit[7]uril. In addition, fluorescence spectroscopy was used to calculate an association constant () between cucurbit[7]uril and cholesterol of 3 . This high value demonstrated the ability of cucurbit[7]uril to reduce liposome stability by extracting cholesterol molecules from the lipid bilayer. Thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated the localization of cucurbit[7]uril molecules on the surface of the liposomes. As the concentration of cucurbit[7]uril increased, the thermal stability increased, i.e. the mass loss of the liposomal suspension decreased. The biocompatibility of cucurbit[7]uril was also investigated using a hemolysis test on human red blood cells. In conclusion, the current study is the first to explain the relationship between lipid membranes and cucurbit[7]uril. The results of this study can be used to develop a new drug delivery system comprising liposomes and cucurbit[7]uril.
脂质体是一种双层脂质纳米载体，已被应用于许多药物制剂中，以提高药物的溶解度和治疗指数。脂质体还被用作较小药物载体（如葫芦脲）的载体，以实现药物在体内靶向部位的更可控释放。在本研究中，我们研究了大环有机化合物葫芦[7]脲对脂质体脂质膜完整性的影响。通过动态光散射测量的脂质体平均尺寸随葫芦[7]脲浓度的增加而增大。此外，荧光光谱法用于计算葫芦[7]脲与胆固醇之间的缔合常数（）为3 。这个高值表明葫芦[7]脲能够通过从脂质双层中提取胆固醇分子来降低脂质体的稳定性。热重分析表明葫芦[7]脲分子定位于脂质体表面。随着葫芦[7]脲浓度的增加，热稳定性增加，即脂质体悬浮液的质量损失减少。还使用人红细胞溶血试验研究了葫芦[7]脲的生物相容性。总之，本研究首次解释了脂质膜与葫芦[7]脲之间的关系。本研究结果可用于开发一种包含脂质体和葫芦[7]脲的新型药物递送系统。
