An overview on aquasomes : a novel approach for delivering macromolecules

In recent blossoming era of research in nanobiotechnology, aquasomes are viewed as an effective and efficient carrier system for drug delivery or biochemically active long chain macromolecules like protein and peptide, different hormones, antigens, enzymes and gene delivery. Aquatones are spherical in shape and having particle size within 60- 300nm. Self-assembled structure of aquasome (due to its natural property) it generates a focus on nanobiotechnology research as a carrier system. Mainly, aquasomes contain three-layers, that is core material, coating material, drug layer attached by ionic or non-covalent bond. Aquasomes include mainly the core materials like , hydroxyapatite, solid phase nanocrystalline ceramic diamond (carbon) and calcium phosphate dihydrate(brushite) . The coating of core material is done with glassy polyhydroxyl oligomeric film such as cellobiose and trehalose, on which modification of biochemically active molecules are attached. Whereas, calcium phosphate used as a core material, because of it is naturally present in the body. Whether calcium phosphate is unstable in nature, due to prolong storage it converts into hydroxyapatite which is a better core than calcium phosphate to develop the aquasomes. The solid core material renders stability of structures, while the coating material stabilizes the biochemically active molecules and protects against dehydration. In this review, we tried to an overview of aquasomes, and about its advantages over conventional drug delivery system, shielding effect of aquasomes on desired drug and how its self-assembled structures, makes them an attractive carrier to deliver biochemically active molecules.