What You Should Know About Liposome

By Ava Hudson


A liposome is a microscopic sac that has been developed in a variety of laboratory settings. It comes with an outer wall made up mainly of lipids that are identical or at least similar to what comprise cell walls. These lipids are what allow them to interact easily with other body cells. Liposomes can be used in numerous applications including genetic research, deliveries of medication and on body areas.

The history of these microscopic vesicles dates back to the 1960s when the British researcher, Alec Bangham first developed them. According to records, he was just experimenting with a brand new laboratory device when he started taking notes of the typical cell wall structure. Utilizing the notes, he managed coming up with the idea for liposomes. Numerous researchers have worked with developing the idea ever since, gathering important details about it.

All cell membranes are created with double layers of phospholipids. These have tails that are repelled by water and heads drawn by it. Cell walls, however, have tails and heads that form a circle of two layers all around cells. Their heads face out to the body and their tails are connected with one another, prompting the heads of the opposite side to direct towards the cell. This is positioning is similar to those of liposome walls.

Liposomes may be utilized for packing medication, DNA, vaccines and various other important substances. The moment they will be induced into the body, body cells will engage with them, prompting the payload delivery. The ability of liposomes to shield weak cells against harsh drugs is one reason as to why they are usually considered by many. They are non-toxic as well so drug deliveries shall not result to any reaction.

In common laboratory settings, liposomes are utilized for the transfer of DNA into specified target cells. Such will allow researchers to utilize liposomes instead of using bacterial or viral vectors for the genetic modifications and this entails more advantages. Lab experiments have also suggested that the vesicles can be used in delivering gene therapy for patients. The procedure constitutes delivery of replacement DNAs for the damaged materials.

Liposomes may also be used as the carriers for nutritional as well as dietary supplements. These vesicles come with hydropholic or lypophilic nutrients, making them very effective in bypassing the destructive elements produced by gastric systems. Such makes it feasible for the encapsulated nutrients to be distributed throughout cells or tissues.

Liposomes may also be used for cosmetics aside from scientific and medical purposes. They are actually really effective especially when used in moisturizers since they increase product efficacy and strength considerably. As with developments that have started in scientific communities, they have also been used as advertising points in ingredient lists.

There are a number of parameters that affect the methods for liposome preparation. These include the medium to be used in dispersing lipid vesicles, the concentration of substances to be entrapped, the shelf-life, polydispersity and optimum size of vesicles as well as the physicochemical characteristics of entrapped materials. The reproduction capacities of liposomal products may also hold an effect on their preparation methods.

A lot of advancements have been discovered in the area of liposome research. One of which is how the vesicles can remain undetected by body immune system. Special types are known as stealth liposomes and they are characterized as having outer membranes that are made of polyethylene glycol or PEG.




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