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Uncovering the secrets of liposomes: Why can they cross cell membranes?
In the scientific community, liposomes are important multifunctional small vesicles that are ideal tools for drug delivery due to their unique structure and properties. From drug development to nutritional supplementation, liposomes exhibit surprising potential for applications, particularly in their ability to cross cell membranes. This article will explore the basic structure of liposomes, their discovery, mechanisms, and their use in modern medicine.
The name liposome comes from Greek, meaning "fat body", and its main composition is phospholipids.
Basic structure of liposomes
Liposomes are small artificial vesicles composed of at least one lipid bilayer, usually including phospholipids and cholesterol. Liposomes are prepared by destroying biological membranes, such as ultrasonic treatment. These lipids can be designed to target specific cells or tissues, using surface ligands to attach to target cells. In Properties of Liposomes,
They match a wide range of water- and fat-soluble molecules, allowing them to efficiently deliver drugs and nutrients.
Historical background
Liposomes were first described by British hematologist Alec Douglas Banham in 1961 during research conducted at the Babram Institute in Cambridge. That's when Banham and colleagues discovered that when dried phospholipids were viewed under an electron microscope, their appearance revealed the bilayer structure of a cell membrane. Shortly thereafter, Banham and colleagues further confirmed the integrity of the liposomes as bilayer structures and discovered their ability to release their contents. This concept paved the way for the establishment of the liposome industry.
For Banham, liposomes were part of an imported theory that could be described as the link between cellular function and the double helix in genetics.
Mechanism of liposomes
Encapsulation mechanism
Liposomes contain an aqueous solution core surrounding a lipid bilayer of hydrophobic membrane. During drug delivery, liposomes can encapsulate both hydrophobic and hydrophilic molecules, a process called encapsulation. The efficiency of encapsulation is an important parameter in the liposome preparation process, and is usually divided into two methods: passive and active encapsulation. In particular, some new developments in the concept of applying liposomes to single-molecule experiments have introduced the term "monomer encapsulation efficiency."
Delivery mechanism
To deliver molecules to their site of action, the lipid bilayer can fuse with other bilayers, such as the cell membrane, thereby releasing the contents within the liposome. However, this process is not spontaneous, and its application to drugs and nutrients is relatively complex. Liposomes can also be designed to release drugs at a specific pH so that they can penetrate the cell membrane and enter the cell at the appropriate time.
Many anticancer drugs, such as doxorubicin, have been packaged using liposomes to facilitate more accurate delivery to diseased tissues.
Applications of liposomes in medical treatment
The application of liposomes is not limited to drug delivery. Recent studies have also focused on their application in nutritional supplements, especially on the effectiveness of oral delivery. Traditional nutritional supplements often face the dilemma of low absorption rates, and encapsulating them with liposomes can effectively improve their bioavailability in the body.
The term "nutritional encapsulator", derived from the combination of "nutritional agent" and "drug", demonstrates the potential of liposomes in food science.
Manufacturing and future prospects
The method of making liposomes often depends on a variety of factors, including the nature of the material being encapsulated and the type of lipid used. The stability and absorption rate of liposomes can be effectively improved by using different preparation methods. In addition, with the advancement of nanotechnology, liposomes will be able to precisely control drug release and targeting in the future, opening up new therapeutic applications.
With the deepening of research on liposomes, the scientific community is moving towards more and more diversified applications. Whether in medical, agricultural or other industries, liposomes may become an important tool to change the status quo. Driven by future technology, what innovations will liposomes bring to us?
