Title:Evaluation of Doxorubicin-loaded Echogenic Macroemulsion for Targeted
Drug Delivery
Volume: 21
Issue: 5
Author(s): Jong-Ryul Park, Gayoung Kim, Jongho Won, Chul-Woo Kim and Donghee Park*
Affiliation:
- BioInfra Life Science Inc., 524, Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101
Daehak-Ro, Jongno-Gu, Seoul, 03080, South Korea
Keywords:
Cancer therapy, drug delivery systems, emulsion, macroemulsion, sonoporation, ultrasound, targeted drug delivery.
Abstract:
Background: The latest technology trend in targeted drug delivery highlights stimuliresponsive
particles that can release an anticancer drug in a solid tumor by responding to external
stimuli.
Objective: This study aims to design, fabricate, and evaluate an ultrasound-responsive drug delivery
vehicle for an ultrasound-mediated drug delivery system.
Methods: The drug-containing echogenic macroemulsion (eME) was fabricated by an emulsification
method using the three phases (aqueous lipid solution as a shell, doxorubicin (DOX) contained oil, and
perfluorohexane (PFH) as an ultrasound-responsive agent). The morphological structure of eMEs was
investigated using fluorescence microscopy, and the size distribution was analyzed by using DLS. The
echogenicity of eME was measured using a contrast-enhanced ultrasound device. The cytotoxicity was
evaluated using a breast cancer cell (MDA-MB-231) via an in vitro cell experiment.
Results: The obtained eME showed an ideal morphological structure that contained both DOX and PFH
in a single particle and indicated a suitable size for enhancing ultrasound response and avoiding complications
in the blood vessel. The echogenicity of eME was demonstrated via an in vitro experiment,
with results showcasing the potential for targeted drug delivery. Compared to free DOX, enhanced cytotoxicity
and improved drug delivery efficiency in a cancer cell were proven by using DOX-loaded
eMEs and ultrasound.
Conclusion: This study established a platform technology to fabricate the ultrasound-responsive vehicle.
The designed drug-loaded eME could be a promising platform with ultrasound technology for targeted
drug delivery.