Aquasome: A Self Assembling Nanoparticulate Drug Carrier System

Aquasomes are one of the most recently developed delivery system for bioactive molecules like peptide, protein, hormones, antigens and genes to specific sites. Aquasomes are spherical in shape with 60–300 nm particles size. Aquasomes are called as “bodies of water" their water like properties protect and preserve fragile biological molecules. Its high degree of surface exposure is used in targeting of bio-active molecules to specific sites. Three types of core materials are mainly used for producing aquasomes: Tin oxide, Nanocrystalline carbon ceramics and Brushite. Calcium phosphate is the core of interest, due to its natural presence in the body. The brushite is unstable and converts to hydroxyapatite upon prolong storage and seems a better core for the preparation of aquasomes. The delivery system has been successfully utilized for the delivery of insulin, hemoglobin, and enzymes like serratiopeptidase etc. Conformational integrity of aquasomes exploited as a red blood cell substitutes, vaccines for delivery of viral antigen to evoke correct antibody. Aquasome deliver their content through specific targeting, molecular sheiling and slow sustained release process.