Innovations in liposomal formulations for antimicrobial therapy

Abstract

Failure of antimicrobial treatment is observed frequently in hospitalised patients. These patients are more susceptible to opportunistic infections and the course of infection is often more serious as these patients fail to develop an adequate inflammatory response. A possible way to improve antimicrobial treatment is to formulate drugs into liposomes. The purpose of the liposomal encapsulation is to improve control over the site, time and rate of drug delivery. This review describes patents claiming the use of liposomes for the delivery of antimicrobial agents and immunostimulants to sites of bacterial or fungal infections since 1998.

• antibiotics
• bacterial infections
• drug delivery
• fungal infections
• liposomes