Formulation of a New Generation of Liposomes from Bacterial and Archeal Lipids

Purpose: To evaluate the application of bacterial liposomes and archaeosomes as a novel drug delivery system for in vitro cytoplasmic delivery of molecules into cancer cells. Methods: Bacterial membrane lipids were extracted using chloroform and methanol. Bacterial liposomes and archaeosomes of E. coli, Acidianus brierleyi and Sulfolobus acidocaldarius were prepared using film method and their trailing in cancer cells (HT-29) was evaluated by carboxyfluorescein (CF). Their morphological characteristics were assessed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Results: At 37 °C, the liposomes and archaeosomes interacted with cell membranes predominantly by fusion and endocytosis. The AFM images showed uniform and dispersed distribution of the liposomes. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that bacterial liposomes and archaeosomes may be useful as drug delivery carriers for the treatment of cancer.