Cytotoxicity and Apoptotic Effect of Phytoceramide IV Containing Liposomes on Murine Mastocytoma Cell P815

The cytotoxicity and apoptotic effect of phytoceramide Ⅳ (N-palmitoyl-phytospingosine) were in-vestigated by preparaing the ceramide containing liposomes using cholesteryl hernisuccinate (CHEMS) and methoxypolyethylene glycol (2000) cholesteryl succinate (PEGCHS).The ceramide-containing liposomes prepared using ultrasonication contained CHEMS and the phytoceramide Ⅳ at a molar ratio of 1:1.Gel chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography equipped with an evaporative light-scattedng detection (HPLC-ELSD) were used to analyze the liposomes.The results show that the ceramide entrapment efficiency is over 90% and the molar ratio of phytoceramide Ⅳ to CHEMS is 1:1.4.The ratio of ceramide to CHEMS as well as the ultrasonication duration affects the liposome properties.The phytoceramide Ⅳ en-capsulated in the liposomes reduces the cellular activity of the murine rnastocytoma cell line P815 in a dose-dependent manner and the reduction of cellular activity is due to cell apoptosis.4,6-diamidino- 2-phenylindole dihydrechlodde (DAPI) staining further supports this result.The encapsulation of highly hy-drophebic ceramides into liposomal formulations could become a potential candidate for enhanced apoptosis.