Liposome Biodistribution via Europium Complexes.

The drug delivery field needs tools to follow vector biodistribution. Radioactive tracers and conventional fluorophores are widely used. We propose here to use europium complexes. Use of pulsed light source time-resolved fluorimetry takes into account the fluorescence decay time of the lanthanide chelates to gain sensitivity in biological media. The method was developed to follow liposome biodistribution. Octadecyl-DTPA.Eu compound has been prepared and incorporated into liposomes without alteration of its fluorescence signal. The method has been validated by comparison with fluorophore-labeled liposomes. The way to proceed to use this method for liposomes or other vectors is detailed.