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Review
. 2022 May 13;8(5):e09394.
doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e09394. eCollection 2022 May.

Liposomes: structure, composition, types, and clinical applications

Hamdi Nsairat  1 , Dima Khater  2 , Usama Sayed  3 , Fadwa Odeh  4 , Abeer Al Bawab  4   5 , Walhan Alshaer  6
Affiliations
Review

Liposomes: structure, composition, types, and clinical applications

Hamdi Nsairat et al. Heliyon. .

Abstract

Liposomes are now considered the most commonly used nanocarriers for various potentially active hydrophobic and hydrophilic molecules due to their high biocompatibility, biodegradability, and low immunogenicity. Liposomes also proved to enhance drug solubility and controlled distribution, as well as their capacity for surface modifications for targeted, prolonged, and sustained release. Based on the composition, liposomes can be considered to have evolved from conventional, long-circulating, targeted, and immune-liposomes to stimuli-responsive and actively targeted liposomes. Many liposomal-based drug delivery systems are currently clinically approved to treat several diseases, such as cancer, fungal and viral infections; more liposomes have reached advanced phases in clinical trials. This review describes liposomes structure, composition, preparation methods, and clinical applications.

Keywords: Lamellarity; Liposomes; Phospholipids; Stealth liposomes; Vaccinations.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic representation of liposomes.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Natural phosphatides the most used to produce liposomes; A) Phosphatidylcholine, B) Phosphatidylethanolamine, C) Phosphatidylserine, D) Phosphatidylinositol, E) Phosphatidylglecerol, and F) Phosphatidic acid.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Palmitic acid -based different synthetic phospholipids; A) 1,2-Dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylethanolamine, B) 1,2-Dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidic acid sodium salt, C) 1,2-Dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylglycerol sodium salt, and D) 1,2-Dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Stearic acid -based different synthetic phospholipids; A) 1,2-Distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylethanolamine, B) 1,2-Distearoyl-sn-Glycero-3-Phosphatidic acid Na salt, C) 1,2-Distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylglycerol sodium salt, and D) 1,2-Distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Mixed and different types of synthetic phospholipids; A) 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine, B) 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane (chloride salt), C) L-a-phosphatidylcholine, D) 1,2-Dioleoyl-sn-Glycero-3-Phosphocholine, E) 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, and F) 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Chemical structure of A) cholesterol, B) β-sitosterol.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Chemical structure of surfactants A) sodium cholate, B) Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS).
Figure 8
Figure 8
Liposomes preparation via thin-film hydration extrusion technique.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Schematic representation of injection methods method.
Figure 10
Figure 10
Schematic representation of injection methods method.
Figure 11
Figure 11
Active clinical trials as per 28/dec/2021, source: https://ClinicalTrials.gov.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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