Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 19, 2025

11:30
Preparation and Characterization of Nanoliposomes for the Entrapment of Bioactive Hydrophilic Globular Proteins
Published on: August 31, 2019
24.4K
Liposomes: Structure, Biomedical Applications, and Stability Parameters With Emphasis on Cholesterol
Pooria Nakhaei1, Ria Margiana2,3,4, Dmitry O Bokov5,6
1School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
|September 27, 2021
Summary
Cholesterol enhances liposome stability, crucial for drug delivery systems, particularly in cancer therapy. Understanding cholesterol
Area of Science:
- Nanotechnology
- Materials Science
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Liposomes, nanoparticle drug carriers, face stability challenges.
- Cholesterol is key to liposomal membrane integrity and function.
- Applications span drug delivery, diagnostics, and food products.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review liposomal applications in cancer therapy.
- To emphasize the role of cholesterol in liposome stability.
- To explore mechanisms of cholesterol-mediated stability enhancement.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of liposome technology and cholesterol's role.
- Analysis of existing research on liposome formulation and stability.
- Focus on drug delivery, especially in oncology.
Main Results:
- Cholesterol significantly improves liposome physical-chemical stability.
- It modulates membrane fluidity, permeability, and drug retention.
- Optimal cholesterol concentration for stability remains an area of research.
Conclusions:
- Cholesterol is vital for stable liposome development.
- Further research is needed to determine optimal cholesterol levels for controlled release.
- Cholesterol-containing liposomes show promise for cancer drug delivery.
Related Concept Videos
What are Lipids?
9.6K
Lipids function as structural components of cellular membranes, in addition to acting as energy reservoirs and signaling molecules. They are thus crucial to all living organisms. The three biologically important classes of lipids are triglycerides, phospholipids, and steroids.
Non-Polar and Hydrophobic Characteristics of Lipids
Lipids are a structurally and functionally diverse group of hydrocarbons—compounds consisting of carbon and hydrogen atoms. The carbon-carbon and...
Non-Polar and Hydrophobic Characteristics of Lipids
Lipids are a structurally and functionally diverse group of hydrocarbons—compounds consisting of carbon and hydrogen atoms. The carbon-carbon and...
9.6K
Biosynthesis of Lipids
180
Microbial membranes exhibit remarkable diversity in lipid composition, reflecting evolutionary adaptations to various environmental conditions. The three domains of life—Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya—synthesize membrane lipids through distinct biosynthetic pathways, leading to fundamental structural differences that impact membrane stability, function, and adaptability.Fatty Acid-Based Lipids in Bacteria and EukaryaBacteria and eukaryotes share a common fatty acid biosynthesis...
180
Structure of Lipids
12.8K
12.8K
Membrane Fluidity
162.1K
Cell membranes are composed of phospholipids, proteins, and carbohydrates loosely attached to one another through chemical interactions. Molecules are generally able to move about in the plane of the membrane, giving the membrane its flexible nature called fluidity. Two other features of the membrane contribute to membrane fluidity: the chemical structure of the phospholipids and the presence of cholesterol in the membrane.
162.1K
Factors Affecting Dissolution: Drug Permeability, Stability and Stereochemistry
289
Orally administered drugs primarily enter the systemic circulation via passive diffusion through the intestinal membranes. The drug's absorption is influenced by drug stability in the gastrointestinal GI tract, membrane permeability, the surface area available for absorption, luminal drug concentration, and residence time in the lumen. Drug permeability can be enhanced by adjusting the lipophilicity, polarity, or molecular size of the drug, promoting its passive transport across intestinal...
289
Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer
8.6K
Biological membranes show uneven distribution of different types of lipids in the inner and outer layers, resulting in transverse asymmetric membranes. The treatment of the erythrocyte membrane with the enzyme phospholipase confirmed the asymmetric nature of the lipid bilayer. The enzyme hydrolyzes lipids into fatty acids and hydrophilic groups. The phospholipase acts only on the outer layer of the membrane, while the inner layer remains intact. The phospholipase treatment resulted in 80%...
8.6K

