Production of novel drug derivery system with light-induced disruption of liposomes (LiDL)

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K21482
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Research (Exploratory)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Medium-sized Section 47:Pharmaceutical sciences and related fields
• Research Institution: Okayama University
• Principal Investigator: Sudo Yuki 岡山大学, 医歯薬学域, 教授 (10452202)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 山田 勇磨 北海道大学, 薬学研究院, 准教授 (60451431)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-07-30 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: ロドプシン / 光 / 生物物理 / pH / リポソーム / DDS

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this research is to establish a novel drug delivery method with the light-induced disruption of liposomes (LiDL). Indeed, we created liposomes containing light-driven H+ pump rhodopsin and a pH-sensitive polymer, in which fluorescent molecules were enclosed. When the liposomes were exposed to light, the liposomes were acidified and the shape of the pH-sensitive polymer was changed, followed by liposome collapse and compound release. This method is expected to become a novel drug delivery system (DDS) that releases drugs by using light with high spatiotemporal resolution.

Free Research Field

生物物理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究により、異なる学術領域である物理化学（代表者）と薬剤学（分担者・協力者）の融合による光誘起崩壊リポソーム：Light-induced Disruption of Liposomes（LiDL）の開発と、それに基づく新奇薬物送達手法の確立が達成された。狙った時間と場所に薬物を届け・働かせることは、薬学における大きな『夢』であり、光を用いる本手法は、その『夢』の達成に向けての有用な手法として、薬学のみならず広く自然科学分野に大きな波及効果をもたらすものと期待される。