Recent Advances in Intranasal Liposomes for Drug, Gene, and Vaccine Delivery

Abstract

Liposomes are safe, biocompatible, and biodegradable spherical nanosized vesicles produced from cholesterol and phospholipids. Recently, liposomes have been widely administered intranasally for systemic and brain delivery. From the nasal cavity, liposome-encapsulated drugs and genes enter the systemic circulation primarily via absorption in the respiratory region, whereas they can be directly transported to the brain via the olfactory pathway. Liposomes can protect drugs and genes from enzymatic degradation, increase drug absorption across the nasal epithelium, and prolong the residence time in the nasal cavity. Intranasal liposomes are also a potential approach for vaccine delivery. Liposomes can be used as a platform to load antigens and as vaccine adjuvants to induce a robust immune response. With the recent interest in intranasal liposome formulations, this review discusses various aspects of liposomes that make them suitable for intranasal administration. We have summarized the latest advancements and applications of liposomes and evaluated their performance in the systemic and brain delivery of drugs and genes administered intranasally. We have also reviewed recent advances in intranasal liposome vaccine development and proposed perspectives on the future of intranasal liposomes.

Emerging Trends in Lipid-Based Vaccine Delivery: A Special Focus on Developmental Strategies, Fabrication Methods, and Applications

“…Thus, this technique has not been explored widely for vaccine delivery systems. The presence of residual solvents and the difficulties associated with its scale-up further limits its use as a vaccine delivery carrier [ 98 ].…”

Potentials of saponins-based adjuvants for nasal vaccines

“…AS01, AS05, AS15, and ALFQ are liposome-based adjuvants. Liposomes can protect antigens from degradation and increase antigens absorption across the nasal epithelium, which can prolong the time antigens remain in the respiratory tract ( 95 ). They are biocompatible, biodegradable, and safe for nasal vaccine development ( 95 ).…”

“…Liposomes can protect antigens from degradation and increase antigens absorption across the nasal epithelium, which can prolong the time antigens remain in the respiratory tract ( 95 ). They are biocompatible, biodegradable, and safe for nasal vaccine development ( 95 ). Intranasal vaccination of influenza vaccine with liposome-based adjuvants has been shown to protect mice from both homologous and heterologous influenza virus challenge ( 96 ).…”

Material and Design Toolkit for Drug Delivery: State of the Art, Trends, and Challenges

“…138 The type of phospholipid, chain length, phospholipid/helper lipid ratio, particle size, number of bilayers, and surface charge determine the liposome's efficiency, safety, and stability. 139 The first FDA-approved drug-loaded liposome, Doxil, was used for ovarian cancer and multiple myeloma. In this drug delivery system, doxorubicin-hydrochloride, as a chemotherapeutic agent, was loaded on liposome nanoparticles, and unilamellar vesicles of 80−100 nm size were prepared.…”