Sunday, 7 September 2014

Liposomal Encapsulation Helps Deliver Medications More Effectively

By Jody Leach


Drugs used to fight disease typically target specific physical systems or organs. Intravenous drips and injections are the most directly effective delivery method, transferring those medications directly to the blood. Orally administered drugs face degradation from the substances that accompany normal digestion. Liposomal encapsulation creates a protective bubble that wards off acids, while encouraging absorption.

Discoveries leading to this process emerged nearly fifty years ago, and have led to the introduction of more controlled methods of administering medications. It is currently important in treating serious medical conditions such as some forms of cancer, treatment-resistant fungal infections, and degenerative vision conditions commonly associated with old age. Standard drug delivery mechanisms still predominate, but encapsulation is proving equally beneficial.

In order to allow drugs to pass through the digestive tract without being broken down, they must be safely encased within a non-toxic protective barrier. Effectively shielding these individual microscopic capsules is possible when using an organic agent that mimics normal cellular walls. When that substance is activated using a variety of current methods, small individual bubbles made of liposomes are formed.

They are microscopic, and can easily pass through the stomach into the small intestine where the coating slowly dissolves, allowing the medication to be absorbed. In many cases, this process actually improves the therapeutic impact, and has the additional benefit of producing fewer side effects. Not all types of medicine are adaptable to this delivery system, which is primarily associated with water-soluble substances.

Because it involves fewer undesirable reactions than invasive delivery, there are immediate advantages of using this process. Liposomes are bio-compatible and biodegradable, leaving behind no undesirable toxins. They not only survive the onslaught of digestive acids, but are able to function as small time-release ports within the gut. When potentially toxic drugs must be used to fight cancers, fewer sensitive tissues face unwanted exposure.

While being used successfully today in many hospitals, there are some drawbacks. Production costs are comparatively high, but are subject to a natural decrease as product use expands. Seal leakage has been an issue in some cases, and simple oxidation processes can diminish effectiveness. Certain drugs may experience a diminished half-life, and their long-term viability may be reduced. Even with these known issues, positive benefits exceed negative reports.

The past decade has seen a transition from strictly medical venue to include delivery of nutritional supplements and cosmetic materials. Anecdotal evidence of an increase in physical well-being associated with administering vitamins and minerals in this way are common. Vitamin C has long been touted as a natural way to combat the effects of upper respiratory infections, and this method is said to provide noticeably better results than pills alone.

Widespread information is available today regarding personal home encapsulation of vitamins, minerals, and herbal extracts. Producing high-quality encapsulated products is both costly and involved, and is not proven to effectively combat aging issues. As this effective method of physical drug delivery is improved and becomes more widespread, consumers will benefit most from its introduction to existing beneficial heal regimens.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment