A comprehensive review on recent preparation techniques of liposomes

Abstract

Liposomes (or lipid vesicles) are a versatile platform as carriers for the delivery of the drugs and other macromolecules into human and animal bodies. Though the method of using liposomes has been known since 1960s, and major developments and commercialization of liposomal formulations took place in the late nineties (or early part of this century), newer methods of liposome synthesis and drug encapsulation continue to be an active area of research. With the developments in related fields, such as electrohydrodynamics and microfluidics, and a growing understanding of the mechanisms of lipid assembly from colloidal and intermolecular forces, liposome preparation techniques have been enriched and more predictable than before. This has led to better methods that can also scale at an industrial production level. In this review, we present several novel methods that were introduced over the last decade and compare their advantages over conventional methods. Researchers beginning to explore liposomal formulations will find this resource useful to give an overall direction for an appropriate choice of method. Where possible, we have also provided the known mechanisms behind the preparation methods.

Keywords:

• Liposome production
• hydration
• microfluidics
• supercritical fluid
• electroformation

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Prof. Sameer Jadhav for the valuable suggestions and Dr. Sopan M. Phapal for some technical assistance. The Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, is gratefully acknowledged for financial support. We also wish to thank the reviewers for careful reading and useful suggestions that have significantly improved the readability of this manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.