Liposomes as nanomedical devices

Liposomes as nanomedical devices

2 February 2015 | Giuseppina Bozzuto, Agnese Molinari
This article reviews the advancements and applications of liposomes in nanomedicine, highlighting their biological and technological advantages as drug carriers. Liposomes, discovered in the 1960s, are composed of lipid bilayers that can encapsulate both hydrophilic and hydrophobic substances. Their efficacy depends on the nature of their components, size, surface charge, and lipid organization. Key advancements include the development of "second-generation" liposomes through modifications such as cholesterol addition and PEGylation, which enhance stability, circulation time, and targeting efficiency. The article discusses various methods for liposome preparation, including thin-film hydration, reverse-phase evaporation, and microfluidic techniques, each with its advantages and limitations. Liposomes are particularly effective in drug delivery due to their biocompatibility, ability to protect drugs from degradation, and enhanced targeting to specific tissues. The pharmacokinetics of liposomes, including their distribution, metabolism, and elimination, are also explored, emphasizing the importance of size and surface charge in determining their fate in the body. Additionally, the article covers the use of charged liposomes for active targeting, which can improve drug efficacy and reduce side effects. Overall, liposomes represent a promising nanocarrier system with significant potential in medical applications.This article reviews the advancements and applications of liposomes in nanomedicine, highlighting their biological and technological advantages as drug carriers. Liposomes, discovered in the 1960s, are composed of lipid bilayers that can encapsulate both hydrophilic and hydrophobic substances. Their efficacy depends on the nature of their components, size, surface charge, and lipid organization. Key advancements include the development of "second-generation" liposomes through modifications such as cholesterol addition and PEGylation, which enhance stability, circulation time, and targeting efficiency. The article discusses various methods for liposome preparation, including thin-film hydration, reverse-phase evaporation, and microfluidic techniques, each with its advantages and limitations. Liposomes are particularly effective in drug delivery due to their biocompatibility, ability to protect drugs from degradation, and enhanced targeting to specific tissues. The pharmacokinetics of liposomes, including their distribution, metabolism, and elimination, are also explored, emphasizing the importance of size and surface charge in determining their fate in the body. Additionally, the article covers the use of charged liposomes for active targeting, which can improve drug efficacy and reduce side effects. Overall, liposomes represent a promising nanocarrier system with significant potential in medical applications.
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