Industrial Health 1995-01-01

Efficacy of liposome encapsulated triethylenetetraamine hexaacetic acid (TTHA) against cadmium intoxication: role of lipid composition.

S Gupta, J R Behari, S Srivastava, M Misra, R C Srivastava

Index: Ind. Health 33(2) , 83-8, (1995)

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Abstract

Efficacy of Triethylenetetraamine hexaacetic acid (TTHA) encapsulated in liposomes having different lipid compositions was examined in animals pre-exposed to cadmium. Mice were injected with cadmium as cadmium (II) chloride 0.5 mg/kg b. wt. intraperitoneally daily for five days. Four weeks after the last injection of cadmium they were administered three injections of TTHA encapsulated in liposomes composed of either phosphatidyl choline:cholesterol (PC:Chol) or sphingomyelin:cholesterol (SM:Chol) in 1:1 molar ratio at a gap of 48 h. Urinary and fecal elimination of cadmium and its distribution in liver, kidneys and spleen were examined. Treatment with TTHA encapsulated in liposomes mobilized higher amount of cadmium from liver and spleen. The overall efficiency for cadmium mobilization was better in TTHA encapsulated in SM:Chol liposome treated group which also led to enhanced excretion of cadmium through urine and feces. The results indicate that TTHA encapsulated in SM:Chol liposomes exhibited highest efficacy in mobilizing cadmium from the body of pre-exposed mice followed by PC:Chol liposomes and the free drug.