Functional characteristics of LDL particles derived from various LDL-apheresis techniques regarding LDL-drug-complex preparation.

Low density lipoproteins (LDL) have the potential to serve as cell specific drug carriers. The LDL may be derived in large quantities from LDL-apheresis procedures. Therefore, LDL particles isolated from the waste of three types of LDL-apheresis were investigated concerning their functional integrity in cell transport tests. LDL particles obtained from dextran sulfate-apheresis (DSA) and heparin extracorporeal lipoprotein precipitation (HELP)-LDL-apheresis are capable of specific internalization into HepG2 cells via the apoB receptor pathway. DSA-LDL-apoB appears to be split into two fragments as judged by SDS gel-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis without changing transport behavior. Membrane differential filtration (MDF)- and HELP-derived LDL particles showed parallel transport behavior and electrophoretic mobility. Acetylated LDL particles obtained from MDF-LDL-apheresis and from blood donation plasma were transported into P388-macrophages via the scavenger receptor pathway. The results confirm the use of LDL particles from LDL-apheresis as substrates for transformation into drug carriers.