A Brief Overview Of The Liposomal Formulation

By Kristen Baird


Among the major areas of care fixated by people is their health. As such, advances in medicines are duly welcome and highly appreciated. Progress in research of various diseases and development of drugs to help curb them is always a good indicator. One such aspect of progress has been noted in liposomal formulation.

There has always existed the problem of ingested drugs being digested before reaching their intended target areas in the body. The process of these formulations was discovered as scientists were looking for a solution to this problem. In this solution, the drug would be closed in and protected by a layer of phospholipids and aqueous solution.

The simplicity of the liposomes' structural composition is key to its performance. They are made up of an aqueous solution which is engulfed in a strengthened mesh of either natural or synthetic phospholipids. The advantage of this is that it can fuse non-reactively with both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs, each attaching to the element it does not react to.

Researchers have found the process of formation of these compounds may be critical to their performance. They are formed when strands of phospholipids are put in water, and a given heat amount is directed to them. The composition of the formed liposomes is tested against that of this drug it is intended to carry, so as to determine compatibility and avoid destructive reactions.

When such discoveries are made, researchers are eager to push it so as to find out if the new discovery can lead to better drugs. IN this case it did. An anthracycline drug known as Doxorubicin was developed to help control the spread of cancer. This is achieved by injecting stains of base DNA and RNA into the malignant cells. The enzyme topoisomerase is also injected at a later stage. These procedures inhibit replication of the cells actively controlling their growth.

It is due to advances in the medical field that control of many diseases is not a reality. Terminal illnesses previously viewed as a death sentence are now controllable and some even treatable. Research on cancer and liposomes has led to development of anti-cancer drugs an their carriers. The development has brought about continuing tests and usage of doxorubicin, paclitaxel, cisplatin, lipoplatin, aroplatin among others.

There has been considerable progress in the development of vaccines for diseases which do not have known cures. Such include hepatitis A, which now has a vaccine, Epaxal, under development. Inflexal V is a vaccine developed for several types of influenza especially in children. A vaccine for cancer known as Stimuvax is also in the offering.

The formulation is being investigated on how well it will serve in transportation of dietary supplements to various parts of the body. This testing is inspired by the exceptional success in performance of liposomes in targeted drug delivery. If successful, scientists will use liposomes to transport supplements to various parts of the body where they are required by the body. This procedure has been tried and worked. Therefore, its no longer a risk.




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