EMULSIONS FOR BIOMEDICAL USES

Recent research has focussed primarily on lipid emulsions for drug del ivery and fluorocarbon emulsions for both oxygen delivery (blood subst itutes) and drug delivery. Decisive progress has been made where our c omprehension of emulsion stability and handle on stabilization against both molecular diffusion and droplet coalescence are concerned. The i n vivo fate of the particles and mechanism of the side effects which c an follow the intravascular administration of emulsions are better und erstood; the latter were minimized. In terms of applications, one key objective was to prolong intravascular persistence of lipid emulsions intended for drug delivery. A strategy has been outlined for optimal u tilization of injectable oxygen-carrying fluorocarbon emulsions with t he objective ai alleviating the need for blood transfusion.