|
|
|
Lymphatic Drug Delivery
The lymphatic system is a unidirectional transport system that serves a variety of physiological functions. Lymphatic capillaries present in the peripheral regions of the body assist in maintaining fluid balance by collecting excess fluid, protein and cellular debris from the interstitium and returning it to the systemic circulation. The lymphatics also play a critical role in the immune system by facilitating the migration of lymphocytes throughout the body and the intestinal lymphatics are responsible for the absorption and transport of dietary fats and lipid soluble compounds after oral ingestion. Research in the Department of Pharmaceutics has also shown that the lymphatic system can also play a significant role in drug absorption. There are two distinct areas of research currently on-going. The first involves the role of the peripheral lymphatics in the absorption of protein drugs after subcutaneous administration, and the second is focussed on the absorption of some highly lipophilic drugs by the intestinal lymphatics after oral administration.
Specific subjects include:
|
