Entrapment of human leukocyte interferon in the aqueous interstices of liposomes.

Human leukocyte interferon has been trapped in the aqueous interstices of multilamellar liposomes (phosphatidylcholine, dicetyl phosphate, and cholesterol [7:2:1]). Such liposomes trapped [3H]inulin (aqueous space marker) and interferon to the extent of 0.22 +/- 0.01 mg (n = 8) and 350 +/- 54 U (n = 4) per mumol of liquid, respectively, as judged by molecular sieve chromatography. Interferon trapped within liposomes was resistant to tryptic digestion under conditions which completely inactivated free interferon. Studies in which interferon was added to preformed liposomes excluded the possibility that interferon bound nonspecifically to the outer layer of the multilamellar liposomes. When interferon was added to the aqueous medium in which liposomes of various net surface charges were permitted to form, trapping of interferon varied directly with the interlamellar aqueous compartments of the liposomes. The demonstration that stable liposomes can entrap interferon suggests that these may constitute suitable vectors for the delivery of interferon to cells.