Liposomes as drug carriers: Difference between revisions
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Phospholipids are the main building block of liposomes. They have tubular shape and have two acyl chains attached to a polar head, which with hydration results in a bilayer, with a hydrophilic head and two hydrophobic tails. This combination means that liposomes are amphiphilic. Liposomes can either be naturally derived phospholipids or of pure surfactant components like DOPE for example. | Phospholipids are the main building block of liposomes. They have tubular shape and have two acyl chains attached to a polar head, which with hydration results in a bilayer, with a hydrophilic head and two hydrophobic tails. This combination means that liposomes are amphiphilic. Liposomes can either be naturally derived phospholipids or of pure surfactant components like DOPE for example. | ||
Cholesterol is important for liposomes as it is used as a membrane additive to fill up the empty spaces between the phospholipids. Cholesterol increases the fluidity of the cell’s membrane and provides an increase in the order of the bilayer as it anchors the components of the bilayer more strongly. This increases the transition temperature of the system and provides stability. | Cholesterol is important for liposomes as it is used as a membrane additive to fill up the empty spaces between the phospholipids. Cholesterol increases the fluidity of the cell’s membrane and provides an increase in the order of the bilayer as it anchors the components of the bilayer more strongly. This increases the transition temperature of the system and provides stability. | ||
Revision as of 13:11, 7 December 2015
Liposomes as d drug delivery system
Basic structure
Liposomes are microscopic spherical vesicles. The outer part, the membrane, is composed of a phospholipid bilayer enclosing in an aqueous volume.
Phospholipids are the main building block of liposomes. They have tubular shape and have two acyl chains attached to a polar head, which with hydration results in a bilayer, with a hydrophilic head and two hydrophobic tails. This combination means that liposomes are amphiphilic. Liposomes can either be naturally derived phospholipids or of pure surfactant components like DOPE for example.
Cholesterol is important for liposomes as it is used as a membrane additive to fill up the empty spaces between the phospholipids. Cholesterol increases the fluidity of the cell’s membrane and provides an increase in the order of the bilayer as it anchors the components of the bilayer more strongly. This increases the transition temperature of the system and provides stability.
