Superhydrophilic Zwitterionic Polymers Stabilize Liposomes

• DOI: 10.1021/la302433a
• Publication Date: 2012-07-11T17:09:17Z
• Authors: Zhiqiang Cao; Lei Zhang; Shaoyi Jiang
• Keywords: Superhydrophilicity

Nonionic polyethylene glycol (PEG) as a stealth polymer destabilizes liposomes due to its amphiphilic property. As result, PEGylated have be further stabilized, such by using large amount cholesterol. This is long existing dilemma faced PEG. In this work, we show that zwitterionic poly(carboxybetaine) (PCB) stabilizes because of superhydrophilic nature, thus solving dilemma. Specifically, PCB-modified without cholesterol exhibited good retention hydrophilic drug and blood circulating characteristics in vivo. To validate new PCB chemistry, liposomal doxorubicin was compared with DOXIL for their antitumor therapeutic efficacies.