Delivery of adriamycin entrapped in sulfatide-inserted liposomes to lymph nodes

We attempted to deliver adriamycin (ADM) to lymph nodes by using sulfatide-inserted liposomes, which consist of phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol, and sulfatide (molar ratio, 5 : 4 : 1) (Lip-ADM). We measured the concentrations of ADM in regional lymph nodes of the stomach after the injection of Lip-ADM or free ADM into the gastric mucosa of dogs, and found that in the case of Lip-ADM, ADM levels in all regional nodes were significantly higher than those in the case of free ADM and these high levels were maintained for 48h. Then, we transplanted a mammary tumor into foot pads of mice to make inguinal lymph node metastases. Upon subcutaneous injection into the femur, Lip-ADM brought about a higher concentration of the drug in the metastasized cells at 24 hours than did the free ADM. These data suggest that liposomes entrapping ADM are effective for the treatment of lymph node metastases of gastric cancers.