OBJECTIVE: To prepare Wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) modified vinorelbine (VRB) cationic liposomes (WGA-VRB cationic liposomes), and to optimize the formulation and conduct cytotoxicity test. METHODS: Thin-film diffusion and ammonium sulfate gradient method were used to prepare WGA-VRB cationic liposomes using phospholipid and cholesterol as excipient, 3β-[N-(N′ -N′ -dimethyl aminoethane)-carbamoyl] cholesterol hydrochloride (DC-Chol) as cationic material, distearoyl phosphatidylethanolamine-polyethylene glycol 2000 (DSPE-PEG2000) as long cycle chain. Using encapsulation rate as index, central composite design-response surface methodology was used to optimize the amount of DC-Chol, cholesterol and VRB. The contents of VRB in VRB liposomes and WGA-VRB cationic liposomes were determined. The effects of them and blank cationic liposomes on survival rates of human breast cancer cell MCF-7 and human non-small cell lung cancer cells A549 were compared. RESULTS: The optimal formulation of 5 mL WGA-VRB cationic liposomes was as follows as phospholipid 22 mg, cholesterol 12 mg, DC-Chol 8 mg, VRB 0.5 mg. Encapsulation rate of the liposomes was (92.24±1.21)%(n=3), relative error of which to predicted value was 5.3%. The contents of VRB in VRB liposomes and WGA-VRB cationic liposomes were (96.01±3.26),(93.39±1.59) μg/mL(n=3). Compared with blank cationic liposomes and VRB liposomes, WGA-VRB cationic liposomes could significantly reduce survival rate of MCF-7 and A549. CONCLUSIONS: WGA-VRB cationic liposomes are prepared successfully. Inhibitory effect of WGA-VRB cationic liposomes on MCF-7 and A549 cell survival is stronger than that of VRB liposomes.