Drug delivery using lipid modifications

As one increases the size of the cages, the cavity becomes sufficiently large to be used as a nanoreactor. In fact, nanometer size capsules or spheres made of lipid bilayers have been investigated for other applications including drug delivery. However, without modification, such vesicles are probably not suitable as reactors since the lipid bilayer is rather fluid, and the lipid molecules exchange with free lipids in solution. In order to use such vesicles as reactors, it is necessary to convert them into a robust... 

The components can be chosen so that the material is biocompatible, opening up possibilities for use in controlled-release drug-delivery and other medical and biological applications that call for nontoxicity. It is known that many biological lipids form bicontinuous cubic phases, and many of these have modifications with polymerizable groups, such as the monolinolein case discussed above. 

Hormones, proteins, and small peptides are not suitable for oral administration without complex modifications in the formulation. A variety of approaches for insulin delivery, as a model drug, have been attempted to improve on its bioavailability. Advances have been realized in the delivery of insulin through oral, nasal, rectal, dermatologic, and ocular routes. Proteins can also be delivered transdermally, using a lipid-based, biphasic delivery system in therapeutic quantity. 

---