Essential Facts To Know About Liposome

By Ava Hudson


Liposomes are known as the microscopic vesicles often developed in laboratory settings. Each of these have outer walls comprising lipids that may seem similar or sometimes even identical to substances composing cell walls. These allow them to interact rather directly with body cells. The applications possible for liposome include targeted deliveries of medications, body areas and research on genetics.

The whole idea of liposomes started way back the 1960s when a Brit researcher named Alec Bangham first formulated it. According to the records, he was only trying out a new equipment in the laboratory when he made careful observations of the structure of cell walls. Using the notes he acquired, he spontaneously came up with the idea of liposomes. Several researchers went on and developed the idea since then, gathering essential details about the vesicles.

Cell membranes are known to be created with two layers of phospholipids. They have tails which are often repelled by water although their heads are drawn by it. They are different from cell walls in that the latter have tails as well as heads that circle around cells in two layers. The heads will face outward of the body while the tails will be connected to one another, prompting heads to direct towards cells. Such a positioning is similar to that of liposome walls.

Liposomes are often used in packing DNA, medication, vaccines and other health-related substances. Once they are induced right into the body, the cells within will start to engage with them, allowing the payload delivery. One reason why liposomes are often considered is their ability to shield weaker cells from harsher drugs. They also are non-toxic so methods for drug deliveries will not cause any reaction.

In a lot of lab settings, liposomes are considered for transporting DNA into several target cells. This option is usually favored by researchers compared to making us of bacterial or viral agents when genetically modifying. In addition, this also entails more benefits. Lab experiments also have suggested that these vesicles can be utilized as carriers for gene therapy of patients. The process will constitute the delivery of DNAs that will replace damaged materials.

These vesicles may also be utilized as carriers for nutritional and dietary supplements. They are known to come with hydrophilic and lypophilic nutrients which make them effective in bypassing destructive elements brought about by the gastric system. Such makes it possible for encapsulated nutrients to reach the cells as well as the tissues.

The field of cosmetics also benefit so much from the use of liposome. The vesicles are considered effective especially when utilized as a moisturizing agent since thy can help increase the efficacy as well as the strength of cosmetic products. Within the developing scientific community, they can be great advertising points when included in ingredient lists.

Methods for the preparation of liposomes depend on several parameters. These parameters include the physicochemical characteristics possessed by the materials intended to be entrapped, the medium used to disperse the lipid vesicles, concentration of entrapped substances, optimum size, shelf-life and polydispersity of vesicles. The reproducibility of the liposomal products will also hold impact on the methods to be used.

There are various advancements in the field of liposome research that contributed to allowing the products to remain undetected by immune systems. Such are commonly referred as stealth liposomes. These particular types are created with PEG, also called Polyethylene Glycol.




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