Versantis Ag

Eth Zurich

Vincent Forster

Jean-Christophe Leroux

Valentina Agostoni

A method for preparing transmembrane pH-gradient vesicles is provided. This method includes the following steps: a) preparing vesicles made from at least one matrix substance in an aqueous medium having an osmolarity of not more than 200 mOsm/l, wherein the matrix substance is chosen from the group consisting of amphiphilic lipids and amphiphilic block copolymers, b) transferring the vesicles into a basic or acidic buffer having an osmolarity being at least 200 mOsm/l higher than the osmolarity of the aqueous medium of step a) to apply an osmotic shock to the vesicles and to obtain buffer-filled vesicles and c) diluting a mixture of the aqueous medium and the basic or acidic buffer containing the buffer-filled vesicles by adding a neutralizing solution to obtain transmembrane pH-gradient vesicles suspended in a suspension buffer, wherein the suspension buffer differs from the basic or acidic buffer in pH value.

Method for preparing transmembrane pH-gradient vesicles

The present invention is directed to a liposome composition for use in the peritoneal dialysis of patients suffering from endogenous or exogenous toxicopathies, wherein the pH within the liposomes differs from the pH in the intraperitoneal cavity and wherein the pH within the liposome results in a liposome-encapsulated charged toxin. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising said liposomes. A further aspect of the present invention relates to a method of treating patients suffering from endogenous or exogenous toxicopathies, preferably selected from drug, metabolite, pesticide, insecticide, toxin, and chemical warfare toxicopathies, more preferably hyperammonemia, comprising the step of administering liposomes of the invention in a therapeutically effective amount into the peritoneal space of a patient in need thereof. Next to human, the present invention is particularly suitable to veterinary aspects.

Method for treating a metabolite toxicopathy

The invention relates to a method for preparing transmembrane pH-gradient vesicles. This method includes the following steps: a) preparing vesicles made from at least one matrix substance in an aqueous medium having an osmolarity of not more than 200 mOsm/l. The matrix substance is chosen from the group consisting of amphiphilic lipids and amphiphilic block copolymers, b) transferring the vesicles into a basic or acidic buffer having an osmolarity being at least 200 mOsm/l higher than the osmolarity of the aqueous medium of step a) to apply an osmotic shock to the vesicles and to obtain buffer-filled vesicles and c) diluting a mixture of the aqueous medium and the basic or acidic buffer containing the buffer-filled vesicles by adding a neutralizing solution to obtain transmembrane pH-gradient vesicles suspended in a suspension buffer, which differs from the basic or acidic buffer in pH value.

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Zurich, Switzerland

Vincent Forster