ABSTRACT
The therapeutic efficacy of pharmacological agents is dependent on their biodistribution, as well as their elimination route and kinetics; thus, nano-carriers can be used to improve the therapeutic index of drugs. Nano-carriers have attractive biological properties, since carrier-incorporated pharmaceuticals are protected from the inactivation effect of external conditions, yet do not cause undesirable side reactions. Liposomes are used as biocompatible carriers of drugs, peptides, proteins, plasmid DNA, and antisense oligonucleotides or ribozymes for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and biochemical purposes. Liposomes and nanoparticles (NP) as drug carriers can be utilized for the treatment of restenosis. The NP can be prepared by methods involving either polymerization of dispersed monomers or dispersion of preformed polymers. Liposomes and NP can be surface-modified with tissue-specific ligand to achieve arterial localization, following systemic administration; however, to date, no significant developments have been reported for targeted delivery systems in vivo.
