Lipid vesicles: Applications, principal components and methods used in their formulations. a review

Abstract

Liposomes and niosomes are currently the most studied lipid vesicles in the nanomedicine field. The system formed by a phospholipid bilayer in aqueous medium allows these vesicles to carry both hydrophilic and lipophilic compounds, providing an increase in solubility of drugs already used in conventional therapy. The focus on the development of these vesicles should be directed to determining the ideal composition, with low toxicity, biocompatibility and which remains stable for long periods. These characteristics are related to the components used for formulation and the substances that will be encapsulated. Another important point relates to the methods used during formulation, which are important in determining the type of vesicle formed, whether these be large or small, unilamellar or multilamellar. Because of the deliberate actions applied in the development of these vesicles, this review sought to gather updated information regarding the different methods used, including their main components while considering the behavior of each of them when used in different formulations. Also, data showing the importance of formulations in the medical field evidencing studies performed with liposome and niosome vesicles as promising in this area, and others, were included. The approach allows a better understanding of the participation of components in formulations such as cholesterol and non-ionic surfactants, as well as the basis for choosing the ideal components and methods for future research in the development of these vesicles.