Characterization of Liposome-based Nanomaterials

In order to provide guidelines to design and perform a robust and reliable physical-chemical characterization of liposome-based nanomaterials, and to support method development with a specific focus on their inflammation-inducing potential the following data have been produced: - Physical-chemical characterization - Interference test - Liposome Cytotoxicity - Effects of Liposomes on Complement Activation - Inflammatory response Out of eight differently functionalized liposomes selected as "case-studies", three passed the physical-chemical characterization ( in terms of size-distribution, homogeneity and stability) and the screening for bacterial contamination (sterility and apyrogenicity). Although all three were non-cytotoxic when tested in vitro, they showed a different capacity to activate human blood cells. HSPC/CHOL-coated liposomes elicited the production of several inflammation-related cytokines, while DPPC/CHOL- or DSPC/CHOL-functionalized liposomes did not.