Synthesis of novel amphiphilic conjugates with a biological recognition function for developing targeted triggered liposomal delivery systems

Several novel amphiphilic lipid derivatives were synthesized consisting of a lipid anchor connected to the hydrophilic moiety via a disulfide or glycoside bond and biotin linked to the hydrophilic part. Disulfide bonds were established by the help of 4-phenyltriazol-3,5-dione. Dansyl or fluorescein was covalently linked as fluorescent marker to some of the conjugates, allowing spectroscopic and microscopic detection. The conjugates represent first amphiphilic lipids carrying all four functions, i.e., lipophilic, hydrophilic, recognition, and disulfide cleavage group in one molecule, which are necessary for targeted, triggered drug delivery from phospholipid liposomes on demand. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.