%0 journal article %@ 0927-7765 %A Chen, Y., Minh, L.V., Lui, J., Angelov, B., Drechsler, M., Haramus, V.M., Willumeit-Roemer, R., Zou, A. %D 2016 %J Colloids and Surfaces B %P 74-82 %R doi:10.1016/j.colsurfb.2015.11.018 %T Baicalin loaded in folate-PEG modified liposomes for enhanced stability and tumor targeting %U https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfb.2015.11.018 %X Bioavailability of baicalin (BAI), an example of traditional Chinese medicine, has been modified by loading into liposome. Several liposome systems of different composition i.e., lipid/cholesterol (L), long-circulating stealth liposome (L-PEG) and folate receptor (FR)—targeted liposome (L-FA) have been used as the drug carrier for BAI. The obtained liposomes were around 80 nm in diameter with proper zeta potentials about −25 mV and sufficient physical stability in 3 months. The entrapment efficiency and loading efficiency of BAI in the liposomes were 41.0–46.4% and 8.8–10.0%, respectively. The morphology details of BAI lipsosome systems i.e., formation of small unilamellar vesicles, have been determined by cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). In vitro cytotoxicity of BAI liposomes against HeLa cells was evaluated by MTT assay. BAI loaded FR-targeted liposomes showed higher cytotoxicity and cellular uptake compared with non-targeted liposomes. The results suggested that L-FA-BAI could enhance anti-tumor efficiency and should be an effective FR-targeted carrier system for BAI delivery.