2-MERCAPTOPROPIONYLGLYCINE AFFORDS ENHANCED RADIOPROTECTION AFTER A LIPOSOME ENCAPSULATION

Use of radioprotective drugs in radiotherapy is desirable to protect n ormal tissues. 2-mercaptopropionylglycine (MPG) has shown promising re sults in experimental radioprotection. In this report, a liposome drug delivery system for MPG has been used in Swiss albino mice exposed to 1 to 8 Gy whole body Gamma-irradiation to test whether or not this mo dality enhances the MPG afforded radioprotection. A statistically sign ificant, dose dependent enhancement of protection by liposome encapsul ated MPG (LEM) was observed. LEM, as compared to free MPG, improved th e viabilities of spleen and bone marrow cells by factors between 1.11 and 2.23 for different doses of radiation.