Abstract
SEMIPERMEABLE microcapsules are spherical ultrathin polymer membranes of cellular dimensions each enveloping a micro-droplet of protein solution or suspension1,2. Microencapsulated enzymes, while prevented from leaking out to give rise to hypersensitivity or immunological reactions, can act on external substrates dialysing across the semipermeable membranes3,4. Microencapsulated enzymes include those present in erythrocyte haemolysates, urease, catalase, trypsin, uricase and L-asparaginase1,4. L-Asparaginase suppresses the growth of certain asparagine dependent tumours5 by depleting the extracellular supply of asparagine. Recent reviews6–9 suggest that parenterally injected Escherichia coli asparaginase is removed rapidly as foreign protein and that there appears to be a relationship between the antitumour activity and the plasma half-life of L-asparaginase. In addition, E. coli asparaginase may give rise to hypersensitivity and immunological reactions. Because microencapsulated L-asparaginase acts efficiently in vitro and in vivo on asparagine which dialyses across the microcapsule membranes10, we have examined the effects of microencapsulated asparaginase on 6C3HED lymphosarcoma cells implanted in mice.
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CHANG, T. The in vivo Effects of Semipermeable Microcapsules containing L-Asparaginase on 6C3HED Lymphosarcoma. Nature 229, 117–118 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1038/229117a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/229117a0
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