Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Suppression Of Macrophage Activity With Clodronate Liposome

By Adele Madden


Clodronate Liposome is used in different research laboratories. Clodronate is used as a treatment for different diseases, especially for cancer metastases. It effects further development of metastases, reduces pain and decreases the risk of fractures. Since this drug cannot be delivered to tissues without suppressing macrophage activity, this nano technology is used for this purpose.

Liposomes are lipid-based nanoparticles. Liposomal encapsulated drugs are mostly used in academic research laboratories. Some new anti-cancer compounds such as this one require a liposome delivery system to be closed in vivo. Target organs for this particular compound are kidneys and bones.

Clodronate liposome suspension should be injected to targeted tissues. While manipulating this type of suspension, some measures of precaution are necessary, such as chemical resistant gloves and clothing, safety goggles and respirators. This compound can be harmful if inhaled, absorbed through skin, swallowed or if it get in contact with your eyes. It causes different irritations, especially to mucous membranes, and you should be very careful with it.

If something like this happens, you need to follow these procedures. If it comes in contact with your eyes, you should wash them for at least fifteen minutes. Skin should be cleaned with soap and plenty of water. You should have respirator to use it if you inhale it, and you should go outside right away. If the person who inhaled it have more serious breathing problems, you should give him an oxygen. If you happen to swallow it, you should call a physician immediately.

Liposomal encapsulated drugs and other compounds are required to manipulate macrophage function. Macrophages have different functions. They participate in natural immune reactions, but they also regulate the function of other, non-phagocytic cells. They ingest and digest microorganisms and macromolecules.

When liposomes encapsulated clodronate gets to tissue, macrophage will ingest and digest it, but they will only destroy this liposome capsule, not the active component. It will be released within this tissue, and then accumulated. Macrophage depleted tissue will allow performing different in vivo researches related to macrophages.

Different diseases can be researched this way, using clodronate liposome. Some autoimmune diseases, transplantation and neurological disorders can also be researched using this type of macrophage suppression. The same method can actually be used for in vitro depletion of macrophages, but it is primarily designed for in vivo researches.

The suspension should be kept at 4 degrees of Celsius, up to one month. The important thing to remember is that it should never be frozen, or exposed to temperatures over 30 degrees. It is also important to wait until this suspension reach room temperature before injecting it to your animals. Other ways your results could be different than expected.

It is also important to shake the suspension until it becomes homogeneous. You should shave the skin and cleanse it with alcohol, to make sure it is disinfected. You should use sterile syringe for each animal. If you use the same one, you might get uneven dosages. Follow the procedure for injecting clodronate liposome to your test animals.




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