Sorafenib and gadolinium co loaded liposomes for drug delivery and MRI guided HCC treatment.
To improve the poor water solubility of sorafenib and to monitor its distribution and the early feedback effects on its in vivo treatment efficacy in a precise manner, sorafenib (SF) and gadolinium (Gd) co loaded liposomes (SF/Gd liposomes) were prepared. The simultaneous imaging and therapy efficacies of the SF/Gd liposomes were tested. The solubility of SF in SF/Gd liposomes was significantly increased from 0.21 mg/mL to 250 mg/mL. The imaging capability of SF/Gd liposomes were tested by in vitro and the in vivo imaging ability tests and the results confirmed that SF/Gd liposomes could be served as an effective contrast agent. The design of SF/Gd liposomes allowed the MRI guided in vivo visualization of the delivery and biodistribution of liposome. In the in vivo antitumor studies, SF/Gd liposomes had better antitumor effects in H22 tumor bearing mice than SF solution (oral or i.v. administration) (P<0.05) These findings indicated that the SF/Gd liposomes could be used as the promising nano carriers for the MRI guided in vivo visualization of the delivery and HCC treatment.
Colloids and surfaces. B, Biointerfaces