Homing devices

The behavior of liposomes in vivo can be influenced to a considerable extent by varying chemical composition and physical properties. Parameters affecting rate of clearance from the blood and tissue distribution include size, composition, dose, and surface characteristics (e.g., charge, hydrophobicity, presence of homing devices such as antibodies). 

Serum albumin Used as core protein for various types of homing devices... 

When the receptor binding domain is encoded in a small peptide sequence, the peptide hg-and can also be synthesized and conjugated chemically to the carrier protein. This approach was followed in our laboratory by Beljaars et al. for the development of carriers aimed at the hepatic stellate cell, a cell type involved in liver fibrosis [33] (see also Chapter 4). A peptide sequence derived from the receptor binding domains of collagen VI was incorporated into a cyclic peptide homing device, and subsequently conjugated to lysine residues of HSA. This carrier bound selectively to activated hepatic stellate cells and rapidly accumulated in the livers of fibrotic rats. 

Table 11.2. Targets for peptide homing devices identified by phage display.

The use of phage-display techniques has identified peptide ligands with specific affinity to cell surface receptors or specific tissues (see Table 11.2). Such peptide homing devices can be... 

Since die wire method of control restricted the maneuverability of launching planes and required that they remain in the vicinity of missiles, thus exposing themselves to the weapons of enemy s bombers, the wire control method was replaced in the latter model of the X-4 by an acoustic homing device Kranich. With the latter device the parent plane could execute an evasive maneuver the moment the missile was launched and then withdraw itself beyond die range of enemy bombers weapons (Ref 3, p 216)... 

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