Development Potential of Liposome-Based Drug Delivery

The concept of liposome was first introduced by Bangham et al. in 1965. The structure of liposomes is a phospholipid vesicle consisting of one or more concentric lipid bilayers enclosing a discrete aqueous space.

In the liposome-related field, liposome-based drug delivery is one of the research focuses. Not only because phospholipids, the main raw material for their preparation, are intrinsic components of human cells, making them biocompatible and non-immunogenic. Moreover, liposomes can be developed into nanoscale particles that can more easily cross biological barriers such as blood vessel walls and cell membranes.

Liposome delivery systems have been considered a method used to improve the delivery limitations of in vivo drugs with good bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy. Liposomes contain both hydrophilic and hydrophobic components. Due to the amphiphilic nature of the lipids in liposomes, which can serve as drug delivery candidate vehicles, liposomes have received more attention than other systems due to their remarkable ability to deliver drugs to their target sites.

The advantages of liposomes as drug delivery vectors are their low toxicity and immunogenicity. Phospholipids, the components of liposomes, are highly biocompatible and biodegradable, which can protect the drug from degradation and increase the concentration of the drug in vivo. In addition, liposomes can be easily modified with a variety of ligands and functional molecules to enable targeted drug delivery.

On the other hand, there are some challenges. One is the relatively high cost of excipients and equipment required for liposome preparation, resulting in higher costs for liposome formulations than many other dosage forms. Second, a disadvantage of liposome formulations containing anticancer drugs is the lack of targeting when administered intravenously, which can lead to adverse reactions. Sterility, preparation methods, availability for mass production, and stability of liposomes are also issues that need to be focused on in liposome development.

But overall, the market is bullish on liposomes. According to The Insight Partners, the global liposome drug delivery market is expected to reach US$ 6,992.95 million by 2027. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 8.8% from 2020 to 2027.

Market leaders continue to invest heavily in liposome development, trying to further improve drug efficacy. In the near future, new liposome solutions are expected to be proposed, ensuring the continuous growth of the market.