Liposomes comprising polymer-conjugated lipids and related uses

Abstract

The present invention provides liposomes comprising a lipid bilayer and a polymer-conjugated lipid, wherein said polymer-conjugated lipid is incorporated into said lipid bilayer. The present invention also provides methods of producing the liposomes as well as a method of delivering a nucleic acid to a subject comprising the step of administering said nucleic acid encapsulated in a mixed liposome, a method for performing diagnostic imaging in a subject, comprising the step of administering a diagnost-ic agent encapsulated in a mixed liposome, and methods for treating, inhibiting, or suppressing a pathological condition in a subject comprising administering to said subject a mixed liposome.

1 . A liposome comprising a lipid bilayer and a polymer-conjugated lipid, wherein said polymer-conjugated lipid is incorporated into said lipid bilayer. 
     
     
         2 . The liposome of  claim 1 , wherein said liposome is a nanoliposome. 
     
     
         3 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The liposome of  claim 1 , wherein said polymer-conjugated lipid comprises two or more lipids conjugated to a single polymer. 
     
     
         7 . The liposome of  claim 6 , wherein the ratio of lipids to polymer units in said polymerconjugated lipid is between 2:4 and 2:2000. 
     
     
         8 . The liposome of  claim 1 , wherein said polymer is Haemaccel. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The liposome of  claim 1 , wherein said polymer is a polysaccharide. 
     
     
         11 . The liposome of  claim 10 , wherein said polysaccharide is a glycosaminoglycan, chitosan, alginic acid, hetastarch and dextran. 
     
     
         12 . The liposome of  claim 11 , wherein said polysaccharide is a glycosaminoglycan seletcted from the groupd consisting of hyaluronic acid, chondroitin, Keratan, dermatan and heparin. 
     
     
         13 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The liposome of  claim 1 , wherein said polysaccharide is conjugated to said lipid via a glutaryl linker. 
     
     
         19 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The liposome of  claim 1 , wherein said lipid is a phospholipid. 
     
     
         24 . The liposome of  claim 23 , wherein said phospholipid is phosphatidylethanolamine. 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . The liposome of claim, wherein said further comprises a polyethylene glycol (PEG)-conjugated lipid. 
     
     
         27 - 63 . (canceled) 
     
     
         64 . A method of producing a mixed liposome comprising the step of conjugating a lipid with a polymer to form a polymer-conjugated lipid and contacting said polymer-conjugated lipid with a liposome to produce a mixed liposome. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 64 , further comprising the step of isolating said polymer-conjugated lipid prior to said contacting step. 
     
     
         66 - 98 . (canceled) 
     
     
         99 . A method of delivering a nucleic acid to a subject comprising the step of administering said nucleic acid encapsulated in a liposome of  claim 1  to said subject. 
     
     
         100 . (canceled) 
     
     
         101 . A method for performing diagnostic imaging in a subject, comprising the step of administering a diagnostic agent encapsulated in a liposome of  claim 1  to said subject and imaging said patient. 
     
     
         102 . A method for treating, inhibiting or suppressing a pathological condition in a subject, comprising administering to said subject a liposome of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         103 . The method of  claim 102 , wherein said pathological condition is selected from the group consisting of a cancer, an infection, obstructive respiratory disease, a dermatological condition, cystic fibrosis, eye disorder, inflammatory bowel disease and nervous system disorder. 
     
     
         104 - 114 . (canceled) 
     
     
         115 . The method of  claim 102 , wherein said liposome further comprises a bioactive agent for treating said pathological condition. 
     
     
         116 - 118 . (canceled) 
     
     
         119 . The method of  claim 102 , wherein said drug is administered orally, intravenously, intranasally intraocularly, intramuscularly, subcutaneously or topically. 
     
     
         120 - 123 . (canceled)