Methods for joint lubrication and cartilage wear prevention making use of glycerophospholipids

Abstract

A method for lubricating a joint of a mammal by administering into a cavity of the joint a composition of liposomes that are multilamellar vesicles (MLV) dispersed in a fluid medium, the liposomes having a mean diameter of between about 0.8 μm to about 10 μm and including membranes of at least one glycerophospholipid (GPL) having two C 12 -C 16 hydrocarbon chains which are the same or different. These membranes have a phase transition temperature in which solid ordered (SO) to liquid disordered (LD) phase transition occurs, the phase transition temperature being at a temperature of about 20° C. to about 39° C. and being lower than the temperature of the joint.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for lubricating a joint of a mammal, which comprises administering into a cavity of the joint having a first temperature a composition consisting essentially of liposomes that are multilamellar vesicles (MLV) dispersed in a fluid medium, the liposomes having a mean diameter of between about 0.8 μm to about 10 μm and consisting essentially of membranes of at least one glycerophospholipid (GPL) having two C 12 -C 16  hydrocarbon chains which are the same or different, the membranes having a phase transition temperature in which solid ordered (SO) to liquid disordered (LD) phase transition occurs, the phase transition temperature being at a temperature of about 20° C. to about 39° C.; the phase transition temperature being lower than the first temperature. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one GPL comprises two C 14 -C 16  acyl chains. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the two hydrocarbon chains are saturated. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one GPL is a phosphatidylcholine (PC). 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said PC is dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC). 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said PC is 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocoline (DPPC). 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said PC is a combination of DMPC and DPPC. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said PC comprises 1,2-dipentadecanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said fluid medium comprises a buffer. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , for the treatment of or prevention of an articular disorder or symptoms arising therefrom or for the treatment, management or prevention of deterioration of locked joints, sports injury or traumatic injury towards osteoarthritis (OA) or disorders secondary to rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriatic arthritis. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said articular disorder is selected from arthritis, osteoarthritis, osteoarthritis in rheumatoid arthritis patients, traumatic joint injury, locked joint, sports injury, status post arthrocentesis, arthroscopic surgery, open joint surgery, and joint replacement. 
     
     
         12 . A method for reducing or preventing a mammal's cartilage wear, which method comprises: administering into a cavity of a mammal's joint having a first temperature a composition consisting essentially of liposomes, wherein said liposomes are multilamellar vesicles (MLV) dispersed in a fluid medium, the liposomes having a mean diameter of between about 0.8 μm to about 10 μm and consisting essentially of membranes of at least one glycerophospholipid (GPL) having two C 12 -C 16  hydrocarbon chains which are the same or different, the membranes having a phase transition temperature in which solid ordered (SO) to liquid disordered (LD) phase transition occurs, the phase transition temperature being at a temperature of about 20° C. to about 39° C.; the phase transition temperature being lower than the first temperature. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said at least one GPL comprises two C 14 -C 16  acyl chains. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the two hydrocarbon chains are saturated. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said at least one GPL is a phosphatidylcholine (PC). 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said PC is dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC). 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said PC is 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocoline (DPPC). 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said PC is a combination of DMPC and DPPC. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said PC comprises 1,2-dipentadecanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said fluid medium comprises a buffer.