Application of spin-correlated radical pair system to liposomal drug-delivery system under exposure to magnetic fields

Abstract In this paper, we used anti-cancer flutamide (FM) as a radical pair-forming drug to investigate whether magnetic fields can control a liposomal drug release through differences in the physical properties of biomembranes. Irradiations of FM-incorporated liposomal nanoparticles (FM-LNs) were performed using an original air-cooled UV-LED irradiation system. Exposure to a static magnetic field of 0.2 T was performed using a pair of commercially available permanent magnets. For evaluating the drug-release potentials with spin-correlated radical pair mechanisms on the photochemical reactions developing in biomembranes, we prepared various types of FM-LNs equipped with possible magnetic controls. According to the overall result of the prepared FM-LNs, the drug release is deemed not to be caused by only the pair mechanisms. But the tests observing the magnetic field effects on the mechanisms must provide useful information on drug targeting. We strongly propose a new drug-release technology using these liposomal nanoparticles equipped with magnetic controls.