Abstract

LIPOSOME: CLASSIFICATION, PREPARATION, AND APPLICATIONS

*Kahakshan Jabin, Zahid Husian, Mohd. Ahmad and Dr. Poonam Kushwaha

ABSTRACT

A liposome is a tiny bubble (vesicle), made out of the same material as a cell membrane. Liposomes, sphere-shaped vesicles consisting of one or more phospholipid bilayers, were first described in the mid-60s. Today, they are a very useful reproduction, reagent, and tool in various scientific disciplines, including mathematics and theoretical physics, biophysics, chemistry, colloid science, biochemistry, and biology. Since then, liposomes have made their way to the market Liposomes can be filled with drugs, and used to deliver drugs for cancer and other diseases. Membranes are usually made of phospholipids, which are molecules that have a head group and a tail group. The head is attracted to water, and the tail, which is made of a long hydrocarbon chain, is repelled by water. Among several talented new drug delivery systems, liposomes characterize an advanced technology to deliver active molecules to the site of action, and at present, several formulations are in clinical use. Research on liposome technology has progressed from conventional vesicles to ‘second-generation liposomes’, in which long-circulating liposomes are obtained by modulating the lipid composition, size, and charge of the vesicle. Liposomes with modified surfaces have also been developed using several molecules, such as glycolipids or Salic acid.

Keywords: Liposomes, Glycolipids, Drug formulations, Drug delivery systems.