Elastic liposomes as novel carriers: recent advances in drug delivery

Abstract

Elastic liposomes (EL) are some of the most versatile deformable vesicular carriers that comprise physiologically biocompatible lipids and surfactants for the delivery of numerous challenging molecules and have marked advantages over other colloidal systems. They have been investigated for a wide range of applications in pharmaceutical technology through topical, transdermal, nasal, and oral routes for efficient and effective drug delivery. Increased drug encapsulation efficiency, enhanced drug permeation and penetration into or across the skin, and ultradeformability have led to widespread interest in ELs to modulate drug release, permeation, and drug action more efficiently than conventional drug-release vehicles. This review provides insights into the versatile role that ELs play in the delivery of numerous drugs and biomolecules by improving drug release, permeation, and penetration across the skin as well as stability. Furthermore, it provides future directions that should ensure the widespread use of ELs across all medical fields.

Preventing Obstructions of Nanosized Drug Delivery Systems by the Extracellular Matrix

“…It is known that nanoparticle elasticity has a significant influence on cell viability, cellular uptake, endocytosis, drug targeting, and drug delivery . Interested readers are referred to excellent review articles on this topic . Flexibility is also thought to have positive effects on diffusion for sterically hindered diffusing molecules.…”

Preparation and Characterization of Callus Extract from Pyrus pyrifolia and Investigation of Its Effects on Skin Regeneration

“…Elastic NLs are prepared by incorporating a single-chain surfactant as an edge activator, which decreases the transition temperature and destabilizes the lipid bilayers of liposomes, followed by increasing their deformability and elasticity, thereby facilitating skin penetration of liposomes by squeezing them across microlamellar spaces among keratinocytes to penetrate across the skin layer as well as through very tiny pores in the skin [56]. Therefore, enhanced skin permeation of PC-ENLs was also confirmed using an excised human epidermal layer.…”

“…Thereafter, the hydration gradient as well as water affinity and high elasticity of elastic NLs act as driving forces to pull the liposomes toward the inner layer of the skin until they have reached the water-rich viable epidermis. After they have permeated across the SC barrier by diffusion via intercluster and intercorneocyte pathways, the pull mechanism is then changed to push mechanism on the liposomes [56,57]. Furthermore, Subongkot et al reported that elastic NLs were distinctly present in the hair follicular region, suggesting that the transfollicular pathway may also play an important role in the release of encapsulated active ingredients, compared to the inter-or trans-cellular route of the nonfollicular region [58].…”

Breaking down the Barrier: Topical Liposomes as Nanocarriers for Drug Delivery into the Posterior Segment of the Eyeball

“…In dermatology, liposomes have successfully been used in atopic dermatitis (taxifolin glycoside) as antibacterial, antifungal (metronidazole nitrate, amphotericin B), and anti-leishmaniasis treatments (amphotericin B, meglumine antimoniate). Antioxidants such as natural flavonoids (catechin and naringenin) have been used to prevent the oxidation of cutaneous disorders and as photoprotective (quercetin), antipsoriatic, anti-inflammatory agents and anti-acne drugs [136].…”