Innovations in Breaking Barriers: Liposomes as Near-Perfect Drug Carriers in Ischemic Stroke Therapy

Int J Nanomedicine. 2024 Apr 23:19:3715-3735. doi: 10.2147/IJN.S462194. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

Liposomes, noted for their tunable particle size, surface customization, and varied drug delivery capacities, are increasingly acknowledged in therapeutic applications. These vesicles exhibit surface flexibility, enabling the incorporation of targeting moieties or peptides to achieve specific targeting and avoid lysosomal entrapment. Internally, their adaptable architecture permits the inclusion of a broad spectrum of drugs, contingent on their solubility characteristics. This study thoroughly reviews liposome fabrication, surface modifications, and drug release mechanisms post-systemic administration, with a particular emphasis on drugs crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to address lesions. Additionally, the review delves into recent developments in the use of liposomes in ischemic stroke models, offering a comparative evaluation with other nanocarriers like exosomes and nano-micelles, thereby facilitating their clinical advancement.

Keywords: BBB; drug carrier; ischemic stroke; liposome; liposome-based engineering.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood-Brain Barrier* / drug effects
  • Blood-Brain Barrier* / metabolism
  • Drug Carriers* / chemistry
  • Drug Carriers* / pharmacokinetics
  • Drug Delivery Systems / methods
  • Drug Liberation
  • Humans
  • Ischemic Stroke* / drug therapy
  • Liposomes* / chemistry
  • Particle Size

Substances

  • Liposomes
  • Drug Carriers

Grants and funding

This work was funded by the National Key R&D Program of China (2022YFA1104900 & 2022YFA1104904), the Innovation Team Project (2023KCXTD007) and the Special project in key areas of Guangdong Province (2021ZDZX2011), and the President Foundation of the Integrated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine of Southern Medical University (1202101003).