Jaeyeong Choi (Hannam University)

Jaeyeong Choi (Hannam University)

Jaeyeong Choi (Hannam University)

The lamellarity of vesicles describes the arrangement of lipid bilayers, such as the number of layers or the presence of small vesicles within the parent vesicles (i.e., liposomes or exosomes). Depending on their lamellarity, vesicles can be classified into unilamellar vesicles (ULV) and multilamellar vesicles (MLV). Lamellarity is important in studying pharmacokinetics (PK) because it affects drug encapsulation efficiency and release. It can be determined using several methods, such as cryo-TEM and bio-SAXS (small-angle X-ray scattering). However, cryo-TEM and bio-SAXS are expensive and complicated to use.

This study aimed to develop a method for determining lamellarity by asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation with multi-angle light scattering (AF4-MALS) to overcome these disadvantages and observe the effect on drug release efficiency for doxorubicin-encapsulated vesicles using fluorescence and triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (QQQ). The lamellarity determined from AF4-MALS was compared with that from cryo-TEM, and the results confirmed that AF4-MALS could be effectively used to determine lamellarity. Additionally, doxorubicin released from the vesicles was quantitatively analyzed using fluorescence and QQQ. These results were compared with the lamellarity determined by AF4-MALS, and the effect of lamellarity on drug release was investigated.