Liposomes for dihydroartemisinin delivery to cancer cells: development, characterization and in vitro studies.

Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) is the most potent anticancer artemisinin-like compound and induce cancer cell death by apoptotic pathways; it is a poorly water soluble compound with low bioavailability and low half-life (34 – 90 min). Therefore, the development of the new formulation of DHA that enables quick availability to the body is of great need. Conventional and stealth liposomes prepared according to the film hydration method, were fully characterized by particle size, zeta potential, polydispersity index, drug entrapment efficiency and TEM analysis. Stability in presence of blood proteins like albumin was evaluated. Cellular uptake of liposomes by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy analysis was investigated. In addition in vitro cytotoxicity studies in the cell line MCF-7 were carried out by sulforhodamine B assay.