Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Essential Facts To Know About Liposome

By Ava Hudson


Liposomes are known as the microscopic vesicles often developed in laboratory settings. Each of these have outer walls comprising lipids that may seem similar or sometimes even identical to substances composing cell walls. These allow them to interact rather directly with body cells. The applications possible for liposome include targeted deliveries of medications, body areas and research on genetics.

The history of these microscopic vesicles dates back to the 1960s when the British researcher, Alec Bangham first developed them. According to records, he was just experimenting with a brand new laboratory device when he started taking notes of the typical cell wall structure. Utilizing the notes, he managed coming up with the idea for liposomes. Numerous researchers have worked with developing the idea ever since, gathering important details about it.

Cell membranes are known to be created with two layers of phospholipids. They have tails which are often repelled by water although their heads are drawn by it. They are different from cell walls in that the latter have tails as well as heads that circle around cells in two layers. The heads will face outward of the body while the tails will be connected to one another, prompting heads to direct towards cells. Such a positioning is similar to that of liposome walls.

Liposomes are often used in packing DNA, medication, vaccines and other health-related substances. Once they are induced right into the body, the cells within will start to engage with them, allowing the payload delivery. One reason why liposomes are often considered is their ability to shield weaker cells from harsher drugs. They also are non-toxic so methods for drug deliveries will not cause any reaction.

In common laboratory settings, liposomes are utilized for the transfer of DNA into specified target cells. Such will allow researchers to utilize liposomes instead of using bacterial or viral vectors for the genetic modifications and this entails more advantages. Lab experiments have also suggested that the vesicles can be used in delivering gene therapy for patients. The procedure constitutes delivery of replacement DNAs for the damaged materials.

There are many professionals that consider liposomes as carriers for both dietary as well as nutritional supplements. The vesicles have lypophylic and hydrophylic nutrients, making them effective in trying to bypass all destructive elements coming from gastric systems. This makes the distribution of the encapsulated nutrients to tissues or cells more feasible.

Liposomes may also be used for cosmetics aside from scientific and medical purposes. They are actually really effective especially when used in moisturizers since they increase product efficacy and strength considerably. As with developments that have started in scientific communities, they have also been used as advertising points in ingredient lists.

There are a number of parameters that affect the methods for liposome preparation. These include the medium to be used in dispersing lipid vesicles, the concentration of substances to be entrapped, the shelf-life, polydispersity and optimum size of vesicles as well as the physicochemical characteristics of entrapped materials. The reproduction capacities of liposomal products may also hold an effect on their preparation methods.

There are various advancements in the field of liposome research that contributed to allowing the products to remain undetected by immune systems. Such are commonly referred as stealth liposomes. These particular types are created with PEG, also called Polyethylene Glycol.




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