The increasing need for drug delivery systems that improve specificity and activity and at the same time reduce toxicity to ensure maximum treatment safety has led to the development of a great variety of drug vectors. Carriers based on soft matter have particularly interesting characteristics. Herein we present the current standing of the research in this area, and focus on two main families, namely matrix systems and vesicles. We outline the structure, properties, and potential applications of these vectors, and discuss their main advantages and drawbacks in their synthesis.
New double-chain and gemini catanionic analogues of the glycolipid galβ1ceridentified as a cell receptor
of the HIV-1 viruswere easily prepared in two steps from unprotected lactose. Due to their sugar moiety,
these new catanionic surfactants were able to be cationized by sodium ions and therefore to be characterized
in their monomeric forms by electrospray mass spectrometry. To our knowledge, this is the first time that
catanionic surfactants have been directly observed, proving undoubtedly their existence as monomeric
species. These new catanionic glycolipids showed interesting anti-HIV-1 activities, acting as monomeric
analogues of galβ1cer. Finally, these new catanionic glycolipids were characterized by their surface active
properties, by lamellar mesophases, and by their aptitude to spontaneously form vesicles.
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