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Suppression Of Macrophage Activity With Clodronate Liposome

By Adele Madden


Clodronate is very effective in the treatment of hypercalcemia and cancer metastases to bones. It can significantly reduce the development of new metastases, as well as to decrease the risk of bone fractures, which is very high in such cases. Besides, it may also reduce the pain associated with this disease. Clodronate liposome, also known as clodrosome, seems to be the best way of delivering this compound to tissues.

To be closed in vivo, this effective compound is delivered encapsulated within liposomes. A liposome is lipid-based tiny particle, designed to carry different compounds in form of suspension. It is lately used in many research laboratories, as highly effective way or delivering drugs to various tissues. In this case, to bones and kidneys.

Although clodronate liposome, or clodrosome, achieves good results while injected, manipulation itself is associated with some risks. It may cause skin irritation, and it also may be harmful if absorbed through the skin. It irritates mucous membranes, and can be harmful if inhaled or swallowed. It can also cause eye irritations. That's why it is necessary to use respirators, chemical safety goggles, appropriate clothing and chemical-resistant gloves.

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.

Clodronate liposomes application can also be used for suppression of macrophage activity in different models of autoimmune diseases, in gene therapy and similar researches. Although this method is designed especially for in vivo research, it can also be successfully used for depletion of macrophages in vitro.

It is important to keep the suspension at appropriate temperature. It shouldn't be exposed to temperatures above 30 degrees of Celsius, or frozen. The ideal storage temperature is four degrees Celsius, and in this case it can be kept one month in refrigerator. For achieving desired results, the suspension should be kept outside the refrigerator until it reaches room temperature, before injecting it to animals.

The suspension should be well shaken before injected, in order to get homogeneous suspension of the liposomes. The skin should be shaved and treated with alcohol, to decrease the risk of infections. You should use clean syringe for injecting clodronate liposome to all animals, and follow the procedure correctly. Other ways it may come to different dosages, especially if you use the same syringe for them all.




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