Swelling lecithin: cholesterol implants for the controlled release of proteins

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

This work demonstrated the effect of two salts as potential simple formulation excipients in modifying hydration properties, phase behavior, and protein release from lecithin-based implants. In vitro release of a model protein, bovine serum albumin (BSA), from cylindrical-shaped lecithin and lecithin:cholesterol (1:1 w/w) implants containing 0, 10, or 30% w/w NaCl or CaCl2 was studied. In the absence of salts, BSA was released from lecithin and lecithin:cholesterol implants with a high monomer content and the release profiles were similar to those previously reported. Cholesterol increased the swelling, induced the formation of myelin structures, and reduced BSA release from the matrices. Addition of the salts to lecithin:cholesterol implants further enhanced the swelling, altered the hydrated morphology, and inhibited protein release. Analyses showed that BSA associated into multimers within these swollen lipid matrices but retained a high degree of protein native structure. Factors that may have contributed to the inhibition of the in vitro release included 1) the swollen multilamellar layers assembled as diffusional barriers, 2) adsorption of BSA onto the hydrated lipid vesicles, and 3) formation of protein aggregates.
Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Liposome Research
Volume19
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)37-48
Number of pages12
ISSN0898-2104
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2009
Externally publishedYes

ID: 40349212