Highly temperature-sensitive liposomes based on a thermosensitive block copolymer for tumor-specific chemotherapy

Recently, we showed that incorporation of poly[2-(2-ethoxy)ethoxyethyl vinyl ether (EOEOVE)], which exhibits a lower critical solution temperature around 40 °C, provides temperature-sensitive properties to stable liposomes. In this study, we applied this thermosensitive polymer for preparation of temperature-sensitive liposomes for tumor-specific chemotherapy with doxorubicin (DOX). We prepared liposomes consisting of PEG-lipid, egg yolk phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol and copoly(EOEOVE-block-octadecyl vinyl ether), which was synthesized as poly(EOEOVE) having anchors for fixation onto liposome membrane. The copolymer-incorporated liposomes were stable and retained DOX in their inside below physiological temperatures. However, they exhibited a significant release of encapsulated DOX above 40 °C and released DOX almost completely within 1 min at 45 °C. The copolymer-modified liposomes exhibited a long circulating property and biodistribution similar to that of PEG-modified liposomes. The copolymer-modified liposomes loaded with DOX were injected intravenously into tumor-bearing mice. Tumor growth was strongly suppressed when the tumor site was heated to 45 °C for 10 min at 6–12 h after injection. However, injection of the liposomes exhibited only slight tumor-suppressive effects as long as mild heating was not applied to the target site. The highly temperature-sensitive properties of the copolymer-incorporated liposomes might contribute to establishment of tumor-selective and effective chemotherapy.