In the world of pharmaceutical drug delivery, one of the most significant challenges is finding an efficient way to transport both hydrophilic (water-soluble) and hydrophobic (fat-soluble) drugs to targeted areas of the body. Many drugs are unstable, difficult to absorb, or toxic when administered in their raw form. Liposomes, with their unique bilayer structure, have emerged as an advanced drug delivery system that can encapsulate both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs, offering a versatile solution to these challenges.
What Are Liposomes?
Liposomes are tiny, spherical vesicles composed of one or more lipid bilayers. These structures closely mimic biological cell membranes, which are also made of lipids. This similarity allows liposomes to safely carry drugs and deliver them to target cells without causing harm. Their unique structure, consisting of a hydrophilic (water-attracting) core and hydrophobic (water-repelling) lipid bilayers, makes them capable of encapsulating drugs with diverse chemical properties.
Hydrophilic drugs are housed in the aqueous core.
Hydrophobic drugs are embedded within the lipid bilayer.
This versatility in drug encapsulation makes liposomes a powerful tool for delivering a wide variety of therapeutic agents.