Nanosilica-supported liposome (protocells) as a drug vehicle for cancer therapy

This study encompasses the development and comparison of nanosilica-supported liposome (protocells), conventional liposome, and polyethylene glycol (PEG)-liposome. An effort was made to study the drug encapsulation efficiency and the in vitro release of the drug, and whether protocells (nanovesicles) could sustain the release of the drug by increasing the residence time, which could reduce the dose-related systemic toxicity of the drug, that is, vincristine sulfate. Nanovesicles had a good encapsulation efficiency (71%), which was comparable to the conventional and PEG-liposome, which were 74% and 78%, respectively. The obtained vesicles were in the size range 100–150 nm, and the drug release efficiency of conventional, PEGylated, and protocells liposome was about 67%, 42%, and 52%, respectively, in 150 minutes. The intermediate value of nanosilica-supported liposome indicates the ability for stable and controlled release of the drug, which prevents the rapid burst or slower release of the drug. This study reveals that protocells as nanovesicles could be a better choice for the delivery of cancer drugs such as vincristine sulfate.