Liposomes are microscopic, spherical vesicles composed of one or more concentric phospholipid bilayers enclosing an aqueous core, formed spontaneously when amphipathic phospholipids self-assemble in water. Their bilayer structure mimics biological membranes and allows them to carry both hydrophilic agents within the…
Liposomes are microscopic, spherical vesicles composed of one or more concentric phospholipid bilayers enclosing an aqueous core, formed spontaneously when amphipathic phospholipids self-assemble in water. Their bilayer structure mimics biological membranes and allows them to carry both hydrophilic agents within the aqueous interior and lipophilic agents within the lipid bilayer, making them versatile vehicles for drugs, nucleic acids, vaccines, contrast agents, and cosmetic actives. Liposomes are classified by lamellarity and size into unilamellar and multilamellar forms and can be tailored in composition, charge, and rigidity to control stability, drug retention, and release behavior. A central goal is improved and targeted delivery: surface modification with polyethylene glycol produces stealth, PEGylated liposomes that resist opsonization and clearance by the mononuclear phagocyte system, prolonging circulation time, while ligand attachment enables active targeting and stimulus-responsive designs, such as pH-sensitive systems, that release their payload under specific conditions including those found in tumors. By encapsulating therapeutics, liposomes can enhance solubility, protect labile molecules from degradation, reduce systemic toxicity, and increase accumulation at sites of disease. Their physical and thermal stability, lamellar organization, and responsiveness to formulation parameters are key determinants of performance and are actively engineered, including in polymerizable and photoactive variants. As biocompatible and biodegradable carriers, liposomes remain a foundational platform in nanomedicine and pharmaceutical drug delivery.
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