Degradation of phosphatidylcholine in liposomes containing carboplatin in dependence on composition and storage conditions.

In this study, the hydrolytic degradation of phosphatidylcholine in aqueous liposome-dispersions and the stability of the anti cancer drug carboplatin enclosed in the liposomes were investigated in dependence on liposome composition and storage conditions. Cholesterol containing liposomes show a high stability of the phosphatidylcholine and the encapsulated carboplatin during six months storage in refrigerator. The hydrolytic degradation of phosphatidylcholine is strongly increased by addition of the antioxidant ascorbyl palmitate, but despite the partial hydrolysis the advantages of the lipid membrane are retained-- no degradation of the drug and no changes in the particle size were detected during six months storage in refrigerator, in contrast to storage at room temperature.