A Glimpse On Liposome And Its Functions

By Danielle Galloway


Over the years, medical science has been continuously evolving to accommodate any changes in the medical landscape. It does not cease from looking for solutions and treatments of various diseases. The discovery of liposome is among the most remarkable breakthroughs in the industry. This is used to aid drug intake to enhance its efficiency, increase success rate in organ transplant surgery and treat several medical malfunctions.

Liposomes are microscopical vesicles developed in an artificial environment like a laboratory. These are composed of phospholipids that are naturally produced or extracted from another source. Its outer wall has similar composition to that of a cell wall. This allows direct interaction between the cells and the liposomes. These tiny, spheroid-shaped bubbles are typically watery in its core.

The most common use of this structure is to introduce medicines to the patient's body more effectively. The unique property of the vesicles allow drugs to be delivered in specific parts of the body through diffusion. With its double-layered membranes, the vesicle can carry hydrophobic drugs. This can also be used to carry biological agents like antibodies to targeted parts in the patient's body.

Moreover, this can extend the delivery time of the administered drugs. The bi-layered sphere slowly releases the drugs in interval over a period of time. This is hypothetically believed to help reduce side-effects since the direct impact of the applied medications are limited only to the affected tissues. This also means that the efficiency of the drugs is maximized.

The structure is considered a natural treatment to cancer, too. The vesicle has the ability to target cancer cells. It can also slip right into the tumor by following the blood flow. Liposomes are small in size, so it does not stray away from the bloodstream. Not to mention its composition that is closely similar to blood vessels, which are trapped inside the endothelial wall. In contrast, cancer cells are leaky in nature. It lets through even the small particles to escape.

This can also help fight autoimmune diseases. In most transplant surgeries, the body initially identifies the newly transplanted organ as a foreign object. As a result, the immune system will try to attack it as the body's natural reaction to protect itself from infestation. This can lead to the body's rejection of the harvested organ. The artificial lipid can help suppress the immune system to slow down its progression.

However, this drug vessel is not spontaneously produced. There are many different methods to create the vesicles depending on its function and purpose. The methods of dissemination and the conditions in which it will be released must be taken into account. The type of material to be transported determines how the structure is created.

The vesicles are produced in different sizes. Generally, these have to be small enough for the white blood cells to engulf the bubbles with ease before releasing the drugs it carries. A decision must be made before the production process to determine the size and number of vessels needed. Reproduction must also be anticipated.

One reservation for medical practitioners regarding this extremely useful breakthrough is its production costs. Mass production is currently unavailable since the vessels cannot last long after its creation. There has been cases of instability and unintentional mixture of drugs as well. Other than that, liposome is definitely a promising discovery.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment