Liposomal compositions and uses of same
View Patent ↗Compositions comprising liposomes composed of whole cell membrane fraction are provided. The liposomes may be attached to, or encapsulate a pharmaceutical agent. Also provided are methods of generating and using these liposomes.
1. A composition-of matter comprising a liposome composed of a whole cell membrane fraction, wherein the liposome exhibits native membrane symmetry and expression of native markers, said liposome encapsulating or conjugated to a pharmaceutical agent being exogenous to the cell from which said whole cell membrane is obtained and said liposome being devoid of the cytoplasmic content of said cell.
2. The composition-of-matter of claim 1 , wherein said cell is a genetically modified cell.
3. The composition-of-matter of claim 1 , wherein said liposome is 30-1000 nm in size.
4. The composition-of-matter of claim 1 , wherein said liposome further comprises synthetic lipids.
5. The composition-of-matter of claim 1 , wherein said liposome is attached to a synthetic polymer at an external surface thereof.
6. A pharmaceutical composition comprising as an active ingredient the composition-of-matter of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
7. The composition-of-matter of claim 1 , wherein said cell is genetically modified to express an exogenous protein such that the whole cell membrane fraction comprises the exogenous protein.
8. A composition-of matter comprising a liposome composed of a whole cell membrane fraction of a cell, wherein said liposome exhibits native membrane symmetry and expression of native markers and wherein said liposome is devoid of the cytoplasmic content of said cell.
9. The composition-of-matter of claim 8 , wherein said liposome encapsulates or conjugated to a pharmaceutical agent being exogenous to said cell.
10. The composition-of-matter of claim 8 , wherein said liposome is attached to a synthetic polymer at an external surface thereof.
11. The composition-of-matter of claim 8 , wherein said liposome is 30-1000 nm in size.
12. A pharmaceutical composition comprising as an active ingredient the composition-of-matter of claim 8 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
13. A method of producing liposomes exhibiting native membrane symmetry and expression of native markers, the method comprising,
(a) subjecting cells to hypotonic conditions, so as to obtain ruptured cell membranes and/or ghosts; and
(b) homogenizing said ruptured cell membranes and/or ghosts to thereby produce liposomes, wherein the method is devoid of membrane solubilizaton in the presence of a detergent,
thereby producing the liposomes exhibiting native membrane symmetry and expression of native markers.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein said homogenizing is effected by:
(c) sonicating said ruptured cell membrane and/or ghosts; and optionally
(d) extruding said ruptured membrane and/or ghosts through a matrix of pre-determined porosity.
15. The method of claim 13 further comprising conjugating a synthetic polymer to said liposomes following step (c).
16. A method of encapsulating a pharmaceutical agent in a liposome, the method comprising making the liposomes according to the method of claim 13 and adding the pharmaceutical agent prior to the step of homogenizing.