(80e) Biocompatibility of Lipid Coated Nanocomposites

There is significant interest in the use of a variety of nanoparticles for drug delivery applications. Solid nanoparticles are unique in that they enable incorporation of drug on the surface of nonporous particles as well as within mesoporous systems. As such, nanoparticles have been examined for use in many routes of delivery such as pulmonary, transdermal, oral and intravenous. Despite the breadth of research examining their use as drug delivery platforms, there is a lack of information regarding the health and safety of solid nanomaterials. In most studies investigating cell toxicity little regard is given to the characterization of the nanomaterials being used. Important aspects often left unconsidered include size, size distribution, surface charge, aspect ratio, morphology, and preparation method.

In addition to traditional solid nanoparticles, liposomes have been highly researched and represent one of the few nanocarriers to successfully transition to clinical applications. Studies of liposome toxicity have shown a strong correlation to their composition. Surface charge, size and concentration have been shown to be significant factors affecting toxicity of liposomes.

Recent literature has focused on combining nanomaterials to develop novel nanocarriers such as liposome encapsulated solid nanoparticles. However, little concern has been given to the health and safety of these newly formed nanocomposites. This study aims to elucidate the missing cellular toxicity effects associated with these new materials and provide a direct comparison to traditional solid nanoparticles. In addition to lipid encapsulation, the factors investigated included size-dependence, dose-dependence, and surface modification effects.