Int. J. Pharm. Sci. Rev. Res.

, 23(1), Nov – Dec 2013; nᵒ 55, 295-301 ISSN 0976 – 044X

Review Article

Liposomal Drug Delivery Systems – A Review

1 2 2 3
A.Maheswaran *, P.Brindha , AR.Mullaicharam , K.Masilamani
1
*Research Scholar, Sastra University, Carism Department, Tirumalaisamudram, Thanjavur - 613401, Tamilnadu, India.
2
Research Supervisors, Sastra University, Carism Department, Tirumalaisamudram, Thanjavur – 613401, Tamilnadu, India.
3
Associate Professor, Jaya College of Pharmacy, Thiruninravur, Chennai 602 024, Tamilnadu, India.
*Corresponding author’s E-mail: maheswaranphd2013@gmail.com

Accepted on: 02-10-2013; Finalized on: 31-10-2013.

ABSTRACT
Liposomes are spherical shaped lipoidal vesicles which are under extensive investigation as drug carriers for improving the
bioavailability and delivery of therapeutic agents. Due to innovative developments in liposome technology, numerous liposome
based drug delivery systems are currently in clinical trial, and recently some of them have been approved for clinical use.
Formulation of drugs in liposomes has provided an opportunity to enhance the therapeutic indices of various agents mainly through
alteration in their bio distribution. This review discusses the classification, formulation, characterization and potential applications of
liposomes in drug delivery.
Keywords: Liposomes, phospholipids, formulation, characterization and applications.

INTRODUCTION 1. Classification Based on Structure

L iposomes are spherical shaped small vesicles that

can be produced from cholesterols, non toxic
surfactants, sphingolipids, glycolipids, long chain
fatty acids and even membrane proteins. Phospholipids
spontaneously form a closed structure when dissolved in
Vesicle Types with their Size and Number of Lipid Layers

Vesicle type

Unilamellar
Abbreviation

UV
Diameter Size

All size ranges

No. of Lipid
Layers
One

water with internal aqueous environment bounded by Small

SUV 20-100nm One
Unilamellar
phospholipids bilayer membranes, this vesicular system is
Medium
called as liposome.1 Liposomes are the drug carrier MUV More than 100nm One
Unilamellar
loaded with different variety of molecules such as small
Large
drug molecules, proteins, nucleotides and even plasmids. LUV More than 100nm One
Unilamellar
Liposomes were first described in 1961 by British Giant
GUV More than 1.0 µm One
hematologist Dr. Alec D Bangham. Liposomes were Unilamellar
discovered when Bangham and R. W. Horne were testing Oligo lamellar OLV 0.1-1.0 µm Approx 0.5
the institute's new electron microscope by adding Multi
MLV More than 0.5 µm 5-25
negative stain to dry phospholipids. The resemblance to lamellar
the plasma lemma and the microscope pictures served as Multi
Multi
the first real evidence for the cell membrane being a MV More than 1.0 µm compartmental
vesicular
bilayer lipid structure. Liposome can be formulated and structure
processed to differ in size, composition, charge and
2 2. Based on Method of Preparation
lamellarity. Liposomal formulations of various
therapeutic drugs have been commercialized. Different Preparation Methods and the Vesicles Formed
by these Methods
CLASSIFICATION OF LIPOSOMES3,4,5
Vesicle
Preparation Method
The liposomes may be classified based on Type

1. Structure Single or oligolamellar vesicle made by reverse

REV
phase evaporation
2. Method of preparation
Multilamellar vesicle made by reverse phase
MLV-REV
3. Composition evaporation method

4. Conventional liposome Stable pluri lamellar vesicle SPLV

Frozen and thawed multi lamellar vesicle FATMLV
5. Specialty liposome
Vesicle prepared by extrusion technique VET
Dehydration- Rehydration method DRV

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3. Based on Composition choline (DLPC), Dimyristoyl phosphotidyl choline (DMPC),

Dipalmitoyl phosphotidyl choline (DPPC), Distearoyl
Different Liposome with their Compositions
phosphotidyl choline (DSPC), Dioleolyl phosphotidyl
Type Abbreviation Composition choline (DOPC), Dilauryl phosphotidyl ethanolamine
Neutral or negatively charge (DLPE), Dimyristoyl phosphotidyl ethanolamine (DMPE),
Conventional CL
phospholipids and cholesterol Distearoyl phosphotidyl ethanolamine (DSPE), Dioleoyl
Fusogenic RSVE Reconstituted sendai virus envelops phosphotidyl ethanolamine (DOPE), Dilauryl phosphotidyl
Phospholipids such as PER or DOPE
glycerol (DLPG), Distearoyl phosphotidyl serine (DSPS).
pH sensitive -
with either CHEMS or OA Cholesterol
Cationic - Cationic lipid with DOPE
The role of cholesterol in formulation of liposomes was
Long Neutral high temp, cholesterol and
LCL given below:8
circulatory 5-10% PEG, DSP
CL or LCL with attached monoclonal  Incorporation of sterols in liposome bilayer produces
Immuno IL
antibody or recognition sequences major changes in the preparation of these
membranes.
4. Based Upon Conventional Liposome
 Cholesterol itself does not form a bilayer structure.
 Natural lecithin mixtures
 However, cholesterol acts as a fluidity buffer. It
 Synthetic identical, chain phospholipids makes the membrane less ordered and slightly more
 Liposome with Glycolipids permeable below the phase transition and makes the
membrane more ordered and stable above the phase
5. Based Upon Speciality Liposome transition. It can be incorporated into phospholipid
 Bipolar fatty acid. membranes in very high concentration up to 1:1 or
even 2:1 molar ratios of cholesterol to phospholipids.
 Antibody directed
MECHANISM OF VESICLE FORMATION
 Methyl/ Methylene x- linked
Lipid vesicles are formed when thin lipid films are
 Lipoprotein coated hydrated and swelled. The hydrated lipid sheets detach
during agitation and form large MLV which prevents the
 Carbohydrate coated interaction of water with the hydrocarbon core of the
 Multiple encapsulated bilayer at the edges. Once the particles formed, it is size
reduced by sonication or by extrusion.8
STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS OF LIPOSOMES
METHOD OF PREPARATION
The main components of liposomes are
I. Passive loading technique9-11
 Phospholipids.
1. Mechanical dispersion
 Cholesterol.
Lipid Hydration Method
Phospholipids
This is the common and most widely used method for the
Phospholipids are the major structural components of preparation of MLV. Round bottomed flask can be used
biological membranes. The most common phospholipid for the preparation. The method involves formation of a
used in liposomal preparation is phosphatidylcholine (PC). thin film by drying the lipid solution and then hydrating
Phosphatidylcholine is an amphipatic molecule the film by adding aqueous buffer and vortexing the
containing6,7 dispersion. The hydration step is done at a temperature
above the gel liquid crystalline transition temperature of
- A hydrophilic polar head group, phosphocholine the lipid or above the transition temperature of the
- A glycerol bridge highest melting component in the lipid mixture.
Depending upon their solubilites the compounds to be
- A pair of hydrophobic acyl hydrocarbon chains encapsulated are added either to aqueous buffer or to
Molecules of phosphtaditylcholine are not soluble in organic solvent containing lipids. The disadvantages of
water. In aqueous media they align themselves closely in the method include low internal volume, less
planar bilayer sheets in order to minimize the encapsulation efficiency and varying size. The less
unfavourable action between the bulk aqueous phase and encapsulation efficiency can be overcome by hydrating
the long hydrocarbon fatty chain. Then the sheets fold on the lipids in presence of immiscible organic solvents like
themselves to form closed sealed vesicles. petroleum ether, diethyl ether. Then it is emulsified by
sonication. MLVs are formed by removing organic layer by
There are several phospholipids that can be used for the passing nitrogen.
liposome preparation such as Dilauryl phosphotidyl

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Micro emulsification 110 nm). Another drawback is removal of all ethanol is

difficult, which may lead to form azeotrope with water.
This method is used for preparing small lipid vesicles in
commercial quantities. This can be achieved by Ether Infusion Method
microemulsifying lipid compositions using high shearing
A solution of lipids dissolved in diethyl ether or ether-
stress generated from high pressure homogenizer.
methanol mixture is slowly injected to an aqueous
Microemulsion for biological applications can be
solution of the drug, to be encapsulated at a temperature
produced by adjusting the speed of rotations from 20 to
of 55-65°C under reduced pressure. The liposomes
200.
reformed by subsequent removal of ether under vacuum.
Sonication The main drawbacks of the method are exposure of drugs
and lipids to organic solvents and high temperature which
In this method MLVs are sonicated either with a bath type
may cause degradation. Further the size may vary from 70
sonicator or probe sonicator.The main drawbacks of this
-190 nm.
method are very low internal volume/encapsulation
efficiency, degradation of phospholipids, exclusion of Double emulsification
large molecules, metal contamination from probe tip and
In this method, a primary emulsion is prepared by
presence of MLV along with SUV.
dissolving the drug in an aqueous phase (w1) which is
French Pressure Cell Method then emulsified in an organic solvent of a polymer to
make a primary w1/o emulsion. This primary emulsion is
The method involves the extrusion of MLV through a
further mixed in an emulsifier-containing aqueous
small orifice at 20,000 psi at 4°C. The method has several
solution (w2) to make a w1/o/ w2 double emulsion. The
advantages over sonication method. The method is
removal of the solvent leaves microspheres in the
simple, rapid, and reproducible and involves gentle
aqueous continuous phase, which are collected by
handling of unstable materials. The resulting liposomes
filtering/centrifuging.
are larger than sonicated SUVs. The disadvantages include
difficulty in achieving temperature and less working Reverse-phase evaporation
volume (about 50 mL maximum).
The lipid mixture is taken in a round bottom flask
Membrane extrusion followed by removal of solvent under reduced pressure
by a rotary evaporator. The system is purged with
In this method, suspension of heterogeneous size
nitrogen and the lipids are re-dissolved in the organic
liposomes is passed through a polymer filter having a
phase. The reverse phase vesicles will form in this phase.
web-like construction providing a tortuous-path capillary
The usual solvents used are diethyl ether and isopropyl
pore, network of interconnected, and a membrane
ether. Aqueous phase which contains drug to be
thickness of at least about 100 microns. The processed
encapsulated is added after the lipids are re-dispersed in
liposomes have a narrow size distribution and selected
this phase. The system is kept under continuous nitrogen
average size less than about 0.4 microns.
and the two phase system is sonicated until the mixture
Dried reconstituted vesicles becomes clear one-phase dispersion. The mixture is then
placed on the rotary evaporator and the removal of
In this method the preformed liposomes are added to an
organic solvent is done until a gel is formed followed by
aqueous solution containing drug or mixed with a
removal of non-encapsulated material. The resulting
lyophilized protein, followed by dehydration of mixture.
liposomes are called reverse-phase evaporation vesicles.
Freeze-Thaw Method
3. Detergent removal
In this method the SUVs are rapidly frozen, followed by
Lipids are solubilised by the detergents at their critical
slow thawing. The sonication disperses aggregated
micellar concentrations. The micelles become
materials to LUV. The fusion of SUV during the processes
progressively richer in phospholipid as the detergent is
of freezing and thawing leads to the formation of ULV.
removed by dialysis and finally combine to form LUVs.
This type of fusion is strongly inhibited by increasing the
The advantages of detergent dialysis method are
ionic strength of the medium and by increasing the
outstanding reproducibility and production of liposome
phospholipid concentration. The entrapment efficiencies
populations of homogenous size. The main drawback of
of 20 to 30% were obtained by this method.
the method is the retention of detergent contaminants.
2. Solvent dispersion
II. Active loading technique12-14
Ethanol Injection Method
Proliposome
A lipid solution of ethanol is rapidly injected to an excess
Lipid and drug are coated onto a soluble carrier to form
of buffer, which leads to the immediate formation of
free-flowing granular material in pro-liposome which
MLVs. The major drawback of the method is that the
forms an isotonic liposomal suspension on hydration. The
particles may be with heterogeneous size distribution (30-
pro-liposome approach may provide an opportunity for

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cost-effective large scale manufacture of liposomes  Drug concentration - Assay method

containing particularly lipophilic drugs.
 Phospholipids peroxidation - UV observance
Lyophilization
 Phospholipids hydrolysis - HPLC/ TLC
The removal of water from products in the frozen state at
extremely reduced pressure is called lyophilization (freeze  Cholesterol auto-oxidation - HPLC/ TLC
drying). The process is generally used to dry products that  Anti-oxidant degradation - HPLC/TLC
are thermolabile which may be destroyed by heat-drying.
This technique has a great potential to solve long term  PH - PH meter

stability problems with respect to liposomal stability.  Osmolarity - Osmometer

Leakage of entrapped materials may take place during the
process of freeze- drying and on reconstitution. C. Physical Characterization

SIZING OF LIPOSOMES  Vesicle shape, and surface morphology – SEM / TEM

Size characteristics of liposome have a major effect on the  Vesicle size and size distribution - Dynamic light
application they can be used. Physical integrity and scattering, TEM.
stability of lipid bilayers structure influence the  Surface charge - Free flow electrophoresis
therapeutic applications of liposome. Therefore particle
size of the liposome must be considered for the liposome  Electrical surface Potential and pH - Zeta potential
production procedure and it must be predictable and and pH sensitive probes
reproducible with particle size distribution within a
 Lamellarity - NMR
certain size range. Sequential extrusion, gel
chromatography and sonication are the common  Phase behaviour - DSC, freeze fracture electron
methods of sizing of liposomes, 15 microscopy
But ultimately these methods have the following  Percent capture - Mini column centrifugation, gel
disadvantages: exclusion
1. Exclusion of oxygen is difficult which result in per  Drug release - Diffuse cell / dialysis
oxidation reaction.
1. Visual Appearance
2. Titanium probes shed metal particle resulting in
Based on the particle size and composition the
contamination.
appearance of the liposomal suspension may be varying
3. They can generate aerosols, which exclude them from from translucent to milky. The samples are homogeneous
use with certain agents. if the turbidity has a bluish shade; the presence of a
nonliposomal dispersion is by flat, grey colour and is most
These above problems are mainly related with the probe
likely a disperse inverse hexagonal phase or dispersed
sonication but these problems can be removed by using
the bath sonication. micro crystallites. An optical microscope can detect
liposome of size greater than 0.3 µm as well as
CHARACTERIZATION OF LIPOSOMES16-18 contamination with larger particles.
Liposome should be characterized for visual appearance, 2. Determination of Liposomal Size
turbidity, size distribution, lamellarity, concentration,
composition, presence of degradation products, and Size Distribution
stability. The behaviour of liposomes in both physical and It is usually measured by dynamic light scattering.
biological system is governed by these factors; therefore Liposomes with relatively homogeneous size distribution
liposomes are characterized for physical attributes and are reliable for this method. Gel exclusion
chemical compositions. chromatography is a simple method, in which a truly
hydrodynamic radius can be detected. Sephacryl-S100
A. Biological characterization
can separate liposome in size range of 30-300nm.
 Sterility - Aerobic/anaerobic culture Sepharose -4B and -2B columns can separate SUV from
micelles.
 Pyrogenicity - Temperature (Rabbit) response
3. Determination of lamellarity
 Animal toxicity - Monitoring survival of animals (rats)
The lamellarity of liposomes can be measured by electron
B. Chemical characterization
microscopy or spectroscopic techniques. The NMR
 Phospholipids concentration - HPLC/Barrlet assay spectrum of liposome is recorded most frequently with
and without the addition of a paramagnetic agent that
 Cholesterol concentration - HPLC / cholesterol shifts or bleaches the signal of the observed nuclei on the
oxide assay outer surface of liposome.

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4. Liposome Stability Lipophillic drugs Hydrophillic drugs Amphiphillic Biphasic

drugs insoluble drugs
Liposome should be physically, chemically, and
High Entrapment Low Entrapment High Poor
biologically stable. Physical stability indicates the ratio of
Low Leakage Bilayer Composition Entrapment Entrapment
lipid to therapeutic agent and steadiness of the size. The Dependent Leakage Rapid Leakage
chemical stability may be affected by two degradation Hydrolytic
Chemical Stability
pathways, oxidative and hydrolytic. Oxidation of Degradation
phospholipids in liposomes mainly takes place in
unsaturated fatty acyl chain-carrying phospholipids. APPLICATIONS OF LIPOSOMES
These chains are oxidised in the absence of particular Liposomes have great pharmaceutical applications in oral
oxidants. Reduction of oxidation can be achieved by and transdermal drug delivery systems. Reduction in the
storage at low temperatures and protection from light toxic effect and enhancement of the effectiveness of
and oxygen. drugs are achieved by this drug delivery system. The
5. Entrapped Volume targeting of liposome to the site of action takes place by
the attachment of amino acid fragment that target
The entrapped volume of liposome (in µL/ mg specific receptors cell. Several modes of drug delivery
phospholipids) can often be deduced from measurements application have been proposed for the liposomal drug
of the total quantity of solute entrapped inside liposome delivery system, few of them are as follows:
assuring that the concentration of solute in the aqueous
medium inside liposomes is the same after separation 1. Enhancement of solubilisation (Amphotericin-B,
from unentrapped material. For example, in two phase Paclitaxel)
method of preparation, water can be lost from the 2. Protection of sensitive drug molecules (Cytosine
internal compartment during the drying down step to arabinosa, DNA, RNA, Ribozymes)
remove organic solvent.
3. Enhancement of intracellular uptake (Anticancer, anti-
viral and antimicrobial drugs)
4. Alteration in pharmacokinetics and bio-distribution
6. Surface Charge (prolonged or SR drugs with short circulatory half life)
Liposomes are usually prepared using charge imparting / Several recent applications of liposomal drug delivery
constituting lipids and hence it is imparting to study the system are as follows
charge on the vesicle surface. The two methods used in
A. Liposome for Respiratory Drug Delivery System21
general to assess the charge are free flow electrophoresis
and zeta potential measurement. Liposome is widely used in several types of respiratory
disorders. Liposomal aerosols can be formulated to
STABILIZATION OF LIPOSOME
achieve sustained release, prevent local irritation,
Usually liposomes may create problem in stability during reduced toxicity and improved stability. Whilst preparing
the storage period. In general certain parameters should liposomes for lung delivery, composition, size, charge,
be considered to achieve successful formulation of stable drug/lipid ratio and drug delivery method should be
19
liposomal drug product: considered. The liquid or dry form is taken for the
inhalation during nebulisation. Drug powder liposome is
 Processing with fresh, purified lipids and solvents.
produced by milling or by spray drying.
 Avoidance of high temperature and excessive
B. Liposome in Eye Disorders22
shearing stress.
Liposome has been used widely to treat disorders of eye.
 Maintenance of low oxygen potential
The disease of eye includes dryness, keratitis, corneal
 Use of antioxidant or metal chelators. transplant rejection, endopthelmitis and proliferative
vitreo retinopathy. Retinal diseases are important cause
 Formulating at neutral pH. of blindness. Liposome is used as vector for genetic
 Use of lyo-protectant when freeze drying. transfection and monoclonal antibody directed vehicle.
Applying of focal laser to heat induced release of
ENTRAPMENT OF DRUGS INTO LIPOSOME BILAYERS liposomal drugs and dyes are the recent techniques of the
Liposomes, because of their biphasic character, can act as treatment of selective tumour and neo-vascular vessels
carrier for both lipophillic and hydrophillic drugs. occlusion, angiography, retinal and choroidal blood vessel
Depending upon their solubility and partitioning stasis.
characteristics, the drug molecules are located differently C. Liposome as Vaccine Adjuvant23,24
in the liposomal environment and exhibit different
entrapment and release properties.20 Liposome has been established firmly as immuno-
adjuvant that is potentiating both cell mediated and non-
cell mediated immunity. Liposomal immuno-adjuvant acts

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Source of Support: Nil, Conflict of Interest: None.

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