LIPOSOMES
Drug Delivery Vehicles of the Future
PROCESS
PROCESS
Most of the time, liposomes that act as drug delivery vehicles insert their contents into the cell by fusing with the cell membrane. Since the membranes of both the liposome and the cell consist of the same substance, the liposome can simply attack to the cell membrane. The picture below demonstrates the several other methods that liposomes use to insert their contents into the cell. [Citation 11]
TYPES OF LIPOSOMES
Multilamellar Vesicle (MLV): Vesicles have on onion structure, which several concentric phospholipid spheres separated by layers of water
Small Unilamellar Vesicle (SUV) and Large Unilamellar Vesicle (LUV): Vesicles have a single phospholipid bilayer sphere enclosing the aqueous solution [Citation 12]
STRUCTURE
Liposome nanoparticles are some of the most effective lipid carriers, and are a popular approach to improving the bioavailability of hydrophobic drugs. Liposome nanoparticles are colloidal drug carriers, which are essentially drug carriers that deliver drugs to a specific target site. A liposome typically consists of an aqueous fluid core enveloped by a lipid bilayer. Liposomes are constructed from the same phosopholipids as a cell membrane. The head of these phospholipids are attracted to water, while the tail repels water. [Citation 7] [Citation 8] [Citation 9]
NANOPARTICLE FUNCTION
These videos describes the uses and functions of nanoparticles in the medical industry today. Nanoparticles have taken the research industry by storm, and have numerous uses in medicine, engineering, and other fields. Through their unique and often unexpected properties, nanoparticles have revolutionized drug delivery. Essentially, nanoparticles serve as a bridge between atomic structures and bulk materials, and it is this property that scientists find most fascinating about these microscopic particles. This is because the properties of materials typically change as the decrease in size and reach nanoscale [Citation 10].
Liposomal Structure
[Image Citations 13]
Nanoparticle Function [Image Citations 11 and 12]
Cell and Liposome Interaction
[Image Citations 10]
Classification of commonly known lipid vesicles according to their structures and/or preparation. [Image Citation 14]