The aim of this study was to test the potential of
liposomes as
drug carriers to the ulcerated oral mucosa. Radioactive
triamcinolone acetonide palmitate (3H-TRMAp) was encapsulated in large multilamellar
lipid vesicles and served as the test lotion. 3H-TRMAp in
solution served as control. Forty-six hamsters were divided into three groups. In group I, multiple confluent
ulcers in both cheek pouches were treated by topical application. In group II, single
ulcers on the cheeks were treated by intramucosal injection. In group III, multiple confluent
ulcers were produced in the cheek pouch on one side, with a single
ulcer in the contralateral cheek pouch; no
drug was applied, and the tissues were prepared for histology. Hamsters were killed at three and 24 hours, respectively,
after treatment. Pouches were divided into ulcerated and intact adjacent mucosa. Cheeks were divided into ulcerated mucosa and distant mucosa.
Drug levels in the four mucosal portions as well as in the blood, liver, spleen, brain, and thalamic region were determined by
radioactive tracer technique. At three hours, liposomal
drug concentrations were lower than in control animals in the brain and the thalamic region. At 24 hours, liposomal
drug values were higher than in control animals in the ulcerated mucosa and lower than in control animals in the thalamic region. Mean
drug concentrations in the ulcerated mucosa were higher in group II than group I. The results parallel those of Mezei and Gulasekharam (1980, 1982);
liposomes increase local and decrease systemic
drug concentration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)