Fluorescently Labelled Cationic Liposomes with Sunitinib and the BODIPY-FL/L-Carnitine Conjugate for Theranostics

Objective: Nanocarriers are promising for theranostics, enabling the combination of diagnostics and therapy. The objective of this work was to develop an amphiphilic derivative of the BODIPY-FL fluorescent dye, encapsulate it in cationic liposomes made from lipopeptides, and evaluate the potential of these liposomes as a drug delivery system for anticancer therapy. Methods: An amphiphilic derivative of the BODIPY-FL fluorescent dye was developed and encapsulated into cationic liposomes made from lipopeptides. The liposomes were loaded with the lipophilic anticancer drug sunitinib. Their physicochemical properties, accumulation, localization, and cytotoxicity in human osteosarcoma (HOS) cells were analyzed. Results and Discussion: The fluorescent liposomes successfully penetrated the cells after 15 min of incubation. The cytotoxicity studies revealed that the liposomes induced cell death after 48 h, with an IC50 value of 106.0 ± 10.2 μM. These results suggest that the BODIPY-FL/L-carnitine liposomes hold promise for both diagnostic and therapeutic applications, offering a potential platform for theranostic drug delivery systems. Conclusions: The developed fluorescent liposomes encapsulating sunitinib show promising potential as a novel anticancer drug delivery system, with applications in theranostics for cancer treatment.