(1. National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, Sichuan University, (2. College of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing Tech University
Since the pioneering observation of Alec Bangham that phospholipids in aqueous systems can form closed bilayered structures in 1965, liposomes have moved a long way from being just another exotic object of biophysical research to become a pharmaceutical carrier of choice for numerous practical applications. The speciality of liposome is beneficial as delivery systems, such as nanoscale, mimetic biomembrane structure, better biocompatibility and facile modification at surface. In light of amphipathicity, water-soluble drug and water-insoluble drug can be loaded into aqueous liposome interior and the liposomal membrane, respectively. Furthermore, liposome also can be used as gene delivery system because its cationic surface charge. And molecular probes loaded liposome can be used for diagnosis. In addition, liposome can load with two or three therapeutic agents for synergistic treatment and/or molecular probes for theranostics. In this paper,the structural design, therapeutic agent and clinical application of liposomal delivery system was summarized and commented.