Hepatocyte Directed Vesicle delivery system

Abstract

A targeted drug delivery system which has specificity for hepatobiliary receptors, which are the specialized metabolic cells of the liver. Hereinafter, this will be referred to as a Hepatocyte Directed Vesicle, or abbreviated as HDV. This preferred directed delivery system utilizes a bipolar lipid for the majority of its vesicle membrane structure. The targeting material, which is only a minor constituent of a targeted vesicle system, has a specificity for hepatobiliary receptors of the liver. The Hepatocyte Directed Vesicle is then attracted to the receptor, and the vesicle releases its pharmacological cargo. This disclosure specifies that the attachment of the targeting material, or molecule, to the vesicle is preferably done by first providing a connector molecule, having a portion inserted into the wall of the vesicle, by reason of being lipophilic, and a portion which is hydrophilic and is projected from the vesicle wall. The target, by connector molecules, are tied together to extend or project the target molecule a distance from the vescile wall. Any chemical molecule capable of circulating in the bloodstream of a warm-blooded animal and attracted to the hepatobiliary receptors will serve as a target substance for this invention. This invention is in the discovery of a unique and unprecedented result of directing a vesicle containing a pharmacological load to the hepatobiliary receptors.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.