Liposomes and its uses along with applications.

1. LIPOSOMES
Anushi Jain
Roll No : 12
Paper 4
MSc I

2. INTRODUCTION
 The name liposome is derived from two Greek
words: 'Lipos' meaning fat and 'Soma' meaning
body.
 Liposomes are concentric bilayered vesicles in
which an aqueous core is entirely enclosed by a
membranous lipid bilayer mainly composed of
natural or synthetic phospholipids.
 Liposomes are a tiny vesicles like a hollow
sphere.
 Its size ranges from 20nm to several micrometers.

4. BASIC STRUTURE
 It has a bilayer
membrane.
 Membranes are usually
made of phospholipids ,
which are molecules that
have a head group and a
tail group.
 The head is attracted to
water, and the tail, which
is made of a long
hydrocarbon chain, is
repelled by water.

5. DIFFERENCE BETEEN MICELLE
AND LIPOSOME
MICELLE LIPOSOME
 Micelle is composed of a
monolayer of amphipathic
molecules (phospholipids).
 They are smaller in size than
liposomes . Their size varies
from 2-20nm.
 Liposome is composed of a
bilayer of amphipathic
molecules (phospholipids).
 Depending upon their type,
they vary in their sizes.

6. STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS
 The main components of the liposomes
are :
Liposome
Phospholipids Cholesterol

7. A. Phospholipids
• Phospholipids are major structural
components of biological membranes in
human body, where 2 types of phospholipids
exist i.e. phosphodiglycerides &
sphingolipids.
 Phospholipids in liposomes are amphipathic
in nature, i.e. , it has both hydrophobic and
hydrophilic parts.
 The head of phospholipid is hydrophilic
(water loving) whereas its tail is hydrophobic
(water fearing).

9.  Most common phospholipi
ds used is
phosphatidylcholine (PC).
• Phosphatidylcholine
is an amphipathic
molecule in which exists:-
 a hydrophilic polar head
group, phosphocholine.
 a glycerol bridge.
 a pair of hydrophobic acyl
hydrocarbon chains.

10. B. Cholesterol
 Cholesterol by itself does not
form bilayer structure.
 They are present within the
phospholipids.
 Cholesterol influences the fluidity
of the bilayer membrane and also
reduces the permeability of the
bilayer membrane in presence of
biological fluids such as
blood/plasma.

11. FORMATION OF A LIPOSOME
 In a cell , when the phospholipids are
dispersed in water, one layer of the heads
faces outside of the cell whereas another
layer of the heads faces inside the cell.
 The hydrocarbon tails of one layer faces
the hydrocarbon tails of another layer and
combines to form bilayer.
 This bilayer then extends in the water to
form a sheet which then curls in a
liposome.

13. TYPES OF LIPOSOMES
1.UNILAMELLAR
LIPOSOMES/VESICLES
2.MULTILAMELLAR
LIPOSOMES/VESICLES
 These are present in
many sizes and
consists of one
bilayer.
 These are larger in size
upto micrometer with two
to more bilayers.

14. TYPES OF LIPOSOMES
3.OLIGOLAMELLAR
LIPOSOMES/VESICLES •Types Of Unilamellar
 These are 0.1-1nm in
size and consists of 5
bilayers.
 Unilamellar are of 3 types :
1. Small unilamellar
vesicles usually range
from 20-100nm in size
and consists 0ne bilayer.
2. Large unilamellar vesicles
are usually greater than
100nm in size with one
bilayer.
3. Giant unilamellar are
greater than 1000nm in
size and consists one
bilayer.

16. USES OF LIPOSOMES IN DRUG
TARGETING
 Liposomes are considered to be one of the
perspective carriers for drug targeting in the
organism.
 To deliver the drug to the site of action , the
liposome can fuse with cell membrane, thus
delivering its contents.
 Another strategy for liposome drug delivery is
by target endocytosis events.
 By altering the pH liposomes can be used in
drug trageting.

18. APPLICATIONS
1. Liposomes are used in drug/protein
delivery or medicines.
• Controlled and sustained drug release in situ.
• Enchanced drug solubization.
2. In Cosmetology and dermatology.
3. In cancer therapy.

19. THANK YOU!