Journal of Dental Research, Vol 65, 1133-1141, Copyright © 1986 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
Liposomes as drug carriers for oral ulcers
B. B. Harsanyi, J. C. Hilchie and M. Mezei
The aim of this study was to test the potential of liposomes as drug
carriers to the ulcerated oral mucosa. Radioactive triamcinolone acetonide
palmitate (3H-TRMAp) was encapsulated in large multilamellar lipid vesicles
and served as the test lotion. 3H-TRMAp in solution served as control.
Forty-six hamsters were divided into three groups. In group I, multiple
confluent ulcers in both cheek pouches were treated by topical application.
In group II, single ulcers on the cheeks were treated by intramucosal
injection. In group III, multiple confluent ulcers were produced in the
cheek pouch on one side, with a single ulcer in the contralateral cheek
pouch; no drug was applied, and the tissues were prepared for histology.
Hamsters were killed at three and 24 hours, respectively, after treatment.
Pouches were divided into ulcerated and intact adjacent mucosa. Cheeks were
divided into ulcerated mucosa and distant mucosa. Drug levels in the four
mucosal portions as well as in the blood, liver, spleen, brain, and
thalamic region were determined by radioactive tracer technique. At three
hours, liposomal drug concentrations were lower than in control animals in
the brain and the thalamic region. At 24 hours, liposomal drug values were
higher than in control animals in the ulcerated mucosa and lower than in
control animals in the thalamic region. Mean drug concentrations in the
ulcerated mucosa were higher in group II than group I. The results parallel
those of Mezei and Gulasekharam (1980, 1982); liposomes increase local and
decrease systemic drug concentration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
