Engineered Multilamellar Cationic Liposomes with High Loading Efficiency and Stability for Enhanced Transdermal...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biotechnology
• Pharmaceutics

Background:

• Cationic liposomes (CLs) are promising drug carriers due to biodegradability and permeation.
• Challenges with CLs include irritation, stability, and effective transdermal delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop stable, non-irritating multilamellar cationic liposomes (MCLs) for enhanced transdermal delivery.
• To investigate the molecular assembly and characterize the properties of the developed MCLs.

Main Methods:

• MCLs were formulated using soy lecithin, cholesterol, and a cationic surfactant in a polyol solvent.
• Molecular assembly was studied using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and 2D-ROESY.
• Safety and efficacy were assessed via chick chorioallantoic membrane assays and porcine ear skin permeation studies.

Main Results:

• MCLs exhibited an onion-like structure, ~300 nm size, and high zeta potentials (40-60 mV).
• Chick chorioallantoic membrane assays showed minimal bleeding (ESI < 12), indicating non-irritancy.
• Retinol-loaded MCLs achieved 80.29% encapsulation and demonstrated significantly higher cumulative release in porcine skin.

Conclusions:

• The developed MCLs provide a stable and efficient platform for transdermal drug delivery.
• This formulation overcomes key limitations of traditional CLs, offering improved safety and efficacy.
• MCLs represent a strategic advancement for next-generation transdermal systems.