Naresh Kalra, V.Dhanya, Vineeta Saini, Dr. G. Jeyabalan
Virosomes are reconstituted viral envelopes that can serve as vaccines and as vehicles for cellular delivery of various macromolecules. The prospect of drug delivery and targeting systems using virosomes is an interesting research and development field. Since virosomes are biocompatible, biodegradable, non-toxic and non-autoimmunogenuic; attempts have been made to utilize them as vaccines or adjuvants as well as delivery systems for drugs and biological for therapeutic purposes. Influenza virus is the most common virus of choice where virosomes are reconstituted influenza virus envelopes devoid of inner nucleic acid core and hence genetic information. The particulate structure and the function of the surface hemagglutinin protein of binding to the cell receptor, mediates pHdependent membrane fusion leading to cellular delivery of the encapsulated biologically active molecule. Various protein, peptide and malarial drugs are too loaded into virus to deliver at a particular site to provide targeted drug delivery system.
