High-intensity focused ultrasound-mediated doxorubicin delivery with thermosensitive liposomes

Local drug delivery of doxorubicin holds promise to improve the therapeutic efficacy and to reduce toxicity profiles. Here, we investigated the release of doxorubicin from thermosensitive liposomes (Dox-TSL) into human glioblastoma (U-87MG) cells. Using Dox-TSL, experiments were carried out in a water bath and showed that 15 min incubation of TSL at 43°C induced the release of 80% doxorubicin loaded TSL compared to the release at 37°C. The cytotoxicity of a range of concentrations of Dox-TSL was also evaluated on U-87MG cells. At 37°C, no cytotoxicity was observed, whereas at 43°C the results showed that the cytotoxicity is dose dependent. At maximal dose of doxorubicin (30 μg/mL), the cell viability was less than 20%. Application of 15 min of HIFU at 1 MHz, 1.5 MPa and 50% duty cycle induced the release of 100% of doxorubicin from Dox-TSL. In the same experimental condition, the cell viability decreased to 40% and 20% at 12h and 48h, respectively, in comparison to that obtained during the incubation of cells with Dox-TSL alone without HIFU. In conclusion, a significant release of doxorubicin from temperature-sensitive liposomes can be achieved leading to an efficient treatment and cell death of tumor cells using HIFU.