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Cleaning blood vessels
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Liposome industrialized in SZ, first in the world
Zhou Jianchuan
HALF a century ago, scientists found that lecithin, a special substance contained in the bean, sometimes miraculously cleans cholesterol plaque from the blood vessels of animals. This phenomenon was confirmed in later experiments as a specific property of liposome, discovered by British scholar Banham in 1965.
Scientists have been interested in liposome since its discovery. Liposome is actually the kernel constituent of lecithin, several thousand times tinier in size. Studies have demonstrated that liposome can effectively melt cholesterol plaque in blood vessels.
Cholesterol plaque is very dangerous to human health, as it can easily lead to stroke or heart attack if left untreated.
Another specific property of liposome is targeting, or the ability to go directly to specific organs. Utilizing this property, researchers use liposome as a medical carrier.
Although scientists have succeeded in isolating liposome in labs, industrialization is still difficult, because it is very active and liable to oxidation. However, Chinese scientist He Zhengshan achieved the breakthrough in 1996, using technology that still offers the only known way to allow batch production, making the product cheap enough for customers. Rootife, an oral supplement by Lutaibao Biologic Engineering Co Ltd of Shenzhen, is the first commercialized liposome product. According to engineers with the company, Rootife is a compound supplement adjusting the blood lipid, clearing the cholesterol plaque, decreasing blood viscosity, and preventing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
Lutaibao's product has attracted attention in the West. Most recently, American researchers of the field paid a special visit to the company, and they have set a high value on its unique technology.
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