Journal of Systems Biology & Proteome Research

Liposomes

Liposomes are artificially prepared lipid vesicles, consisting of concentric phospholipid bilayers entrapping aqueous compartments. They're going to be wont to encapsulate strongly hydropihilic molecules solved in aqueous solutions, like clodronate, a non-toxic bisphosphonate, developed for human application. Freely solved clodronate won't cross liposomal or cellular phospholipid membranes. After injection, liposomes, used as Trojan horses during this case, are becoming to be ingested and digested by macrophages followed by intracellular release and accumulation of clodronate. At a selected intracellular concentration, clodronate induces apoptosis of the macrophage. By this approach, i.e. by creating an animal with macrophage depleted tissues or organs, functional aspects of macrophages are studied 'in vivo' in many collaborative projects. Liposomes are a promising nanocarrier for drug delivery thanks to their biocompatibility and thus the encapsulation capacity of drugs. Liposomes are often functionalized easily by introduction of functional materials like stimulus-responsive materials. Few drugs are formulated as liposomes to strengthen their therapeutic index. Hence kind of vesicular drug delivery systems like liposomes, niosomes, transfersomes and pharmacosomes are developed. The most target of this chapter is to the various method of preparation, characterization of liposomes, advantages and applications, etc.