Abstract
Over the years there has been a great revolution in drug delivery technologies. Virosomes delivery is an example of the various novel drug delivery systems available. Virosome is a drug or vaccine delivery mechanism which is spherical and consisting of unilamellar phospholipid bilayer vesicle with a mean diameter is in range of 120-180 nm. Virosomes represent reconstituted empty influenza virus envelopes, which contain 70% phosphatidylcholine and remaining 30% neuraminidase (NA) and haemagglutinin (HA) glycoproteins. Various techniques are used for the loading the drug, protein and peptide like package inside the IRIV (immunopotentiatin reconstituted influenza virosome), intrigrated into lipid bilayer also anchored into lipid bilayer, crosslinked with Hemaglutinin (HA) and adsorbed to the membrane. Various protein, peptide, and malarial drugs are loaded in virus to deliver at particular site to give the targeted drug delivery. The prospect of drug delivery and targeting using virosomes is an interesting field of research and development. Virosomes are biodegradable, biocompatible, nontoxic, and non-autoimmunogenic attempts were made to use them as a vaccines or pharmaceutical adjuvants as well as delivery systems for pharmaceutical drugs, nucleic acids, genes for therapeutic application. Virosomes could also be exploited as carriers for targeted drugs and for immunomodulating molecules particularly in cancer therapy. The success of virosomal drug delivery depends on the methods used to prepare the encapsulated bioactive materials and incorporate them into the virosomes, characterization and formulation of the finished preparation. This review article gives an insight of virosomes as a newer method of drug delivery and futuristic tool.
Highlights
Virosome can use as a drug or vaccine delivery mechanism consisting of unilamellar phospholipid bilayer vesicle incorporating virus derived proteins to allow the virosomes to fuse with target cells and tissues
Various techniques are used for the loading the drug, protein and peptide like package inside the Immunopotentiatin reconstituted influenza virosome (IRIV), intrigrated into lipid bilayer anchored into lipid bilayer, crosslinked with Hemaglutinin (HA) and adsorbed to the membrane
Biocompatible, nontoxic, and non-autoimmunogenic attempts were made to use them as a vaccines or pharmaceutical adjuvants as well as delivery systems for pharmaceutical drugs, nucleic acids, genes for therapeutic application
Summary
Virosome can use as a drug or vaccine delivery mechanism consisting of unilamellar phospholipid bilayer vesicle incorporating virus derived proteins to allow the virosomes to fuse with target cells and tissues. Virosomes are not able to replicate but are pure fusion-active macro and nano level vesicle These are reconstituted viral envelopes that can serve as vaccines and as vehicles for cellular delivery of macromolecules and nanomolecules. The receptor-binding and membrane-fusion properties of the viral envelope of glycoprotein can be preserved and virosomes can be used as transport vehicles for cellular delivery of biologically active macromolecules and nanomolecules. The new generation of therapeutics against cancer or neurogenerative disorders needs drug delivery systems which guarantee targeted drug delivery to specified host tissues and cells, receptor-mediated uptake and controlled release into the lumen of the cells This all requires vision and long-term, challenges meet with the development of a highly sophisticated carrier system based on its proprietary virosomal technology. Virosomes can be used as adjuvant, vehicle and this property has already been validated by three licensed vaccines against hepatitis A (Epaxal, Berna Biotech) and influenza (Inflexal, Berna Biotech and Invivac, Solvay Pharmaceuticals), which combine the superior safety of a subunit vaccine with the immunogenic potential and biological properties of a virus-like structure[19,20]
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