Nanomedicines in renal transplant rejection – focus on sirolimus

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Authors: Li-Jiuan Shen, Fe-Lin Lin Wu

Published Date October 2007 Volume 2007:2(1) Pages 25 - 32

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/IJN.S

Li-Jiuan Shen, Fe-Lin Lin Wu

School of Pharmacy and Graduate Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy at National Taiwan University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan

Abstract: Nanomedicine, known as the application of nanotechnology in medicine, has been applied to overcome the problems of poor bioavailability, in vitro and in vivo stability, and targeted delivery in the preparation of pharmaceutical products. Sirolimus, a water-insoluble immunosuppressant, has been formulated into an oral solid dosage form by using NanoCrystal^® technology to increase the water solubility and thereby the bioavailability. The efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetic properties are not significantly different between liquid and solid formulations except that less fluctuation of sirolimus blood concentration was observed in solid dosage form. The tablet formulation offers the advantages of better palatability and more convenience for long-term use. Sirolimus tablets are not only a successful example of nanomedicine, but also a more cost-effective treatment in renal transplantation than cyclosporine and tacrolimus.

Keywords: nanomedicine, sirolimus, kidney transplantation, transplantation