Liposomes have attracted much attention since they were first discovered. These artificially created, microscopic spheres have many properties that make them extremely useful. One of these is their bio-compatibility. They act in exactly the same way as the cellular membranes of the body. This means they can be used as a unique delivery system for nutrients, drugs and other agents to specific areas in an organism. There are a numbers of ways in which liposome manufacturing is achieved, all of which have advantages and disadvantages.
Phospholipids like lecithin is used as raw material. The phospholipid molecules have heads that love water. They also have two tails that are essential fatty acid chains repelled by water. When the phospholipids are put in a solution that is water-based, the heads end up side by side with the tails trailing behind. The fact that the tails repel water means that another layer lines up with the tails facing the tails of the first layer. This natural alignment results in two rows of tightly fitting molecules. These layers form membranes around and inside all cells.
Liposomes can be used as delivery vehicles for a wide variety of drugs, vaccines, enzymes, genetic material and for some nutritional supplements as well. They not only allow for release of encapsulated materials but are beneficial in themselves for cells. The lipids used to construct the fatty part of the molecule is used by the cell wall for repair and construction of new membranes.
Various lipids and mixtures can be used to make liposomes and some of these are of a higher quality than others. What they have in common is they do not go through the digestive tract and the encapsulated payload is not biologically active until it reaches the cells. It is how, when, where and why the rupture of the membrane occurs that the difference between them comes in.
All the methods for preparation of liposomes have the same basic stages. Lipid vesicles are formed when thin lipid films are hydrated. The liquid bilayers become fluid, detach and self-close to form large vesicles. Once these large particles have formed, their size is reduced by energy input. This may be in the form of sonic energy called sonication or mechanical energy called extrusion.
Different methods are known to have certain weaknesses and strengths. Some allow for high load dosing and others offer much lower dose loading. Some of them offer more consistency and stability. The encapsulated content is affected more by some methods than others.
The type of manufacturing processes and equipment used both have an effect on the type of liposomes produced. Inconsistent sizes, high production costs and structural instability are just some of the challenges faced in production. Many advances are being made in this respect as research proceeds at a rapid pace. An exciting example is research into how to make liposomes that can target certain organs or diseased tissue.
Although conventional methods of manufacture are effective, research continues apace to make them more so. Much research is being conducted into ways in which liposomes can be created that have a strong chemical affinity for the cells of a particular organ or kind of tissue. They also need to have the ability to deliver payloads to the cells as efficiently as possible.
Phospholipids like lecithin is used as raw material. The phospholipid molecules have heads that love water. They also have two tails that are essential fatty acid chains repelled by water. When the phospholipids are put in a solution that is water-based, the heads end up side by side with the tails trailing behind. The fact that the tails repel water means that another layer lines up with the tails facing the tails of the first layer. This natural alignment results in two rows of tightly fitting molecules. These layers form membranes around and inside all cells.
Liposomes can be used as delivery vehicles for a wide variety of drugs, vaccines, enzymes, genetic material and for some nutritional supplements as well. They not only allow for release of encapsulated materials but are beneficial in themselves for cells. The lipids used to construct the fatty part of the molecule is used by the cell wall for repair and construction of new membranes.
Various lipids and mixtures can be used to make liposomes and some of these are of a higher quality than others. What they have in common is they do not go through the digestive tract and the encapsulated payload is not biologically active until it reaches the cells. It is how, when, where and why the rupture of the membrane occurs that the difference between them comes in.
All the methods for preparation of liposomes have the same basic stages. Lipid vesicles are formed when thin lipid films are hydrated. The liquid bilayers become fluid, detach and self-close to form large vesicles. Once these large particles have formed, their size is reduced by energy input. This may be in the form of sonic energy called sonication or mechanical energy called extrusion.
Different methods are known to have certain weaknesses and strengths. Some allow for high load dosing and others offer much lower dose loading. Some of them offer more consistency and stability. The encapsulated content is affected more by some methods than others.
The type of manufacturing processes and equipment used both have an effect on the type of liposomes produced. Inconsistent sizes, high production costs and structural instability are just some of the challenges faced in production. Many advances are being made in this respect as research proceeds at a rapid pace. An exciting example is research into how to make liposomes that can target certain organs or diseased tissue.
Although conventional methods of manufacture are effective, research continues apace to make them more so. Much research is being conducted into ways in which liposomes can be created that have a strong chemical affinity for the cells of a particular organ or kind of tissue. They also need to have the ability to deliver payloads to the cells as efficiently as possible.
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