Predominant role of local immunosuppressive effect in enhanced efficacy of liposomal FK506 in organ transplantation

Liposomes in the treatment of inflammatory disorders

This review focuses on the therapeutic utility of liposomes in the treatment of inflammatory disorders, and aims to offer the reader an overview of the in vivo results obtained with liposomally encapsulated anti-inflammatory and immune suppressive drugs. The past 30 years has clearly indicated the added value of liposomes in the search for solutions for the delivery problems encountered. However, only a few liposomal anti-inflammatory therapeutics have entered the clinic. Reasons for the hurdles existing in the translation of promising preclinical findings to clinical studies are discussed.

PCL-b-PEO micelles as a delivery vehicle for FK506: assessment of a functional recovery of crushed peripheral nerve

The aim of this work was to test in vivo a new block copolymer-based delivery system containing lipophilic drug FK506, known as Tacrolimus. Tacrolimus is currently used in clinics as an immunosupressant agent, and more recently it has been shown that it can exert neurotrophic effects. We prepared, characterized, and assessed polycaprolactone-b-polyethylenoxyde (PCL-b-PEO) micelles containing FK506 in vitro and in vivo. By using well-established animal model of peripheral nerve injury (crushed sciatic nerve), we show that the rate of functional recovery of injured nerve is significantly enhanced in rats treated with micellar FK506. These findings support the notion that PCL-b-PEO is a suitable polymer material for FK506 and suggest its wider applicability as a delivery vehicle for other biologically active, poorly soluble therapeutic agents.