POLYETHYLENEGLYCOL BASED MICELLES AS CARRIERS OF THERAPEUTIC AND DIAGNOSTIC AGENTS

The use of amphiphilic polyethyleneglycol derivatives for preparing mi cellar pharmaceutical carriers is considered. Micelles prepared from a mphiphilic synthetic polymers can be used for effective solubilization and stabilization of poorly soluble therapeutic and diagnostic substa nces. Low critical micelle concentration values of such micelles allow s those substances to be kept in solution even upon dilution in the bl ood. Different features of polyethyleneglycol based micellar carriers are discussed, such as small size, stability in the biological milieu, and prolonged circulation time. As an example, practical applications of polyethyleneglycol-lipid micelles loaded with amphiphilic metal co ntaining chelates for enhanced scintigraphic and magnetic resonance im aging of the lymphatic system are considered.