'LIPOSOMES AS HARBINGER IN DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM' IN BIOTECHNOLOGICAL RESEARCH - AN INTROSPECTION

摘要

Liposomes, originally studied as cell membrane models, have gained recognition in the field of drug delivery. Liposomes are formed by the self-assembly of phospholipid molecules in an aqueous environment. Shown schematically in Figure I (A, B, C), the amphiphilic phospholipid molecules form a closed bilayer sphere in an attempt to shield their hydrophobic groups from the aqueous environment while still maintaining contact with the aqueous phase via the hydrophilic head groups. The resulting closed sphere may encapsulate water soluble drugs within the central aqueous compartment or lipid soluble drugs within the bilayer membrane. Alternatively, lipid soluble drugs may be complexed with cyclodextrins and subsequently encapsulated within the liposome aqueous compartment. The encapsulation within/association of drugs with liposomcs alters drug pharmacokinetics, and this may be exploited to achieve targeted therapies.