Liposomes: recent progress on nanoparticles production and their usage in medicine

Since the discovery of the first nanoparticles, scientists have developed controlled-release drugs, in which nanoparticles play a crucial role as drug carriers. Nanoparticles enable targeted and controlled release, but also face some challenges in their application, production and storage in vivo. The most used nanoparticles for drug encapsulation are liposomes. Liposomes consist of a lipid bilayer membrane that separates the inner hydrophilic/aqueous core from the surrounding environment. In the process known as encapsulation, an active ingredient is added that is either hydrophobic or hydrophilic. Their production is a challenge. Therefore, various production methods have been developed (thin film hydration, reverse phase evaporation, microfluidic methods, etc.) to achieve high encapsulation efficiency, stability and improved drug delivery in vivo. In medical treatment, liposomes are already used as carriers for analgesics, drugs to prevent and treat a variety of diseases (fungal, bacterial, and viral infections) and chemotherapeutics to treat various types of cancer (docetaxel, paclitaxel, doxorubicin, etc.). This article gives an insight into the methods of liposome production, ranging from conventional to more modern techniques with their advantages and disadvantages of the encapsulated substances and their use in medicine.