Liposome: composition, characterisation, preparation, and recent innovation in clinical applications

J Drug Target. 2019 Aug;27(7):742-761. doi: 10.1080/1061186X.2018.1527337. Epub 2018 Oct 15.

Abstract

In the last decades, pharmaceutical interested researches aimed to develop novel and innovative drug delivery techniques in the medical and pharmaceutical fields. Recently, phospholipid vesicles (Liposomes) are the most known versatile assemblies in the drug delivery systems. The discovery of liposomes arises from self-forming enclosed phospholipid bilayer upon coming in contact with the aqueous solution. Liposomes are uni or multilamellar vesicles consisting of phospholipids produced naturally or synthetically, which are readily non-toxic, biodegradable, and are readily produced on a large scale. Various phospholipids, for instance, soybean, egg yolk, synthetic, and hydrogenated phosphatidylcholine consider the most popular types used in different kinds of formulations. This review summarises liposomes composition, characterisation, methods of preparation, and their applications in different medical fields including cancer therapy, vaccine, ocular delivery, wound healing, and some dermatological applications.

Keywords: Liposomes; applications; cancer; drug delivery; phospholipids; wound healing.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Drug Administration Routes
  • Drug Delivery Systems*
  • Humans
  • Liposomes / metabolism*
  • Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Vaccines / immunology

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Liposomes
  • Vaccines