Lipidic lyotropic liquid crystals: Insights on biomedical applications

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomedical Engineering
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Liquid crystals (LCs) exhibit unique physicochemical properties, bridging solid and liquid states.
• Lipidic lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs) are versatile systems with significant biomedical potential.
• Previous work established LLCs for biomedical applications, necessitating an updated review.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive review of lipidic LLCs in biomedical applications.
• To discuss the properties, fabrication, and diverse applications of LLCs.
• To examine current limitations and future perspectives of LLCs in biomedicine.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of lipidic lyotropic liquid crystals.
• Analysis of LLC properties, types, and fabrication methods.
• Synthesis of information on biomedical applications and future trends.

Main Results:

• Lipidic LLCs demonstrate significant utility in drug/biomacromolecule delivery, tissue engineering, and molecular imaging.
• Various administration routes are explored for lipidic LLC-based therapies.
• Key limitations and promising future directions for lipidic LLCs are identified.

Conclusions:

• Lipidic LLCs are a promising platform for advanced biomedical applications.
• Further research into LLCs will drive innovation in drug delivery, regenerative medicine, and diagnostics.
• The unique properties of LLCs position them for transformative roles in future healthcare solutions.