Progress in laminitis research, a primer for: Distribution of technetium-99m PEGliposomes during oligofructose induced laminitis development in horses
Tami Rahkola
Abstract
This primer aims to provide sufficient background to explain “Distribution of technetium-99m PEGliposomes during oligofructose induced laminitis development in horses,” and subsequently assist in understanding the consequence of that paper on the field of laminitis research. Underwood, Pollitt, Metselaar, Laverman, van Bloois, van den Hoven, Storm, and van Eps are leaders within this field of research. Their experiment, being discussed in this primer, aimed to investigate the accumulation and biodistribution of liposomes during an oligofructose experimental model of laminitis in equines. Radiolabeling the liposomes allowed these researchers to identify that liposomes readily accumulate in the lamellar tissue of laminitic horses. Liposomes have been used for drug delivery in other disease models, due to their ability to carry aqueous solutions in their inner compartment. Knowing that they accumulate in the lamellar tissue during laminitis development indicates that they may be useful for targeted drug delivery to the lamellar tissue. This could provide the breakthrough in finding a clinical application for pharmaceutical intervention of laminitis.
