Brain-targeted delivery of obidoxime, using aptamer-modified liposomes, for detoxification of organophosphorus compounds

Effective intracerebral delivery acetylcholinesterase (AChE) reactivator is key for the acute organophosphorus (OPs) poison treatment. However, the blood-brain barrier (BBB) restricts the transport of these drugs from blood into the brain. Herein, we developed transferrin receptor (TfR) aptamer-functionalized liposomes (Apt-LP) that could deliver AChE reactivator (obidoxime) across the BBB to act against paraoxon (POX) poisoning. The aptamer had strong affinity for TfR and was modified with 3′-inverted deoxythymidine (dT) to improve serum stability. The uptake of Apt-LP by bEnd.3 cells was significantly higher than that of non-targeting liposomes. The ability of Apt-LP to penetrate intact BBB was confirmed in in vitro BBB mice model and in vivo biodistribution studies. Treatment of POX-poisoned mice with Apt-LP-LuH-6 reactivated 18% of the brain AChE activity and prevented brain damage to some extent. Taken together, these results showed that Apt-LP may be used as a promising brain-targeted drug delivery system against OPs toxicity.