Analysis of liposomes using asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation: separation conditions and drug/lipid recovery

Liposomes composed of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine and dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol were analyzed by asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation coupled with multi-angle laser light scattering. In addition to evaluation of fractionation conditions (flow conditions, sample mass, carrier liquid), radiolabeled drug-loaded liposomes were used to determine the liposome recovery and a potential loss of incorporated drug during fractionation. Neither sample concentration nor the cross-flow gradient distinctly affected the size results but at very low sample concentration (injected mass 5 μg) the fraction of larger vesicles was underestimated. Imbalance in the osmolality between the inner and outer aqueous phase resulted in liposome swelling after dilution in hypoosmotic carrier liquids. In contrast, liposome shrinking under hyperosmotic conditions was barely visible. The liposomes themselves eluted completely (lipid recoveries were close to 100%) but there was a loss of incorporated drugs during separation with a strong dependence on the octanol-water partition coefficient of the drug. Whereas corticosterone (partition coefficient ~2) was washed out more or less completely (recovery about 2%), loss of temoporfin (partition coefficient ~9) was only minor (recovery about 80%). All fractionations were well repeatable under the experimental conditions applied in the present study.