Abstract

POLYMERS USED FOR SURFACE MODIFICATIONS IN STEALTH LIPOSOMES PREPARATIONS: A REVIEW

Assogba Gabin Assanhou*, Raphael Nammahime Alolga, Vitus Onoja, Janvier Engelbert Agbokponto, Said Abasse Kassim, Eboka Majolene Benedicta Sabi-mouka.

Abstract

Discovered in 1965, liposome an artificial vesicle that is composed of one or more concentric phospholipid bilayers and is used especially to deliver microscopic substances (as DNA or drugs) to body cells. Liposomes have been investigated for improving their capacities to load high amounts of drugs and thereby increase their efficacies by decreasing the toxicities of common drugs used in therapy such as chemotherapeutics drugs. Poly ethylene glycol (PEG) coated liposomes have been adopted to avoid the rapid clearance and opsonization of conventional liposomes by macrophages of reticuloendothelial system (RES). Moreover, because of the accelerated blood clearance (ABC) phenomena of most PEGylated liposomes upon several injections, there was the need to investigate and approve other polymers to form stealth liposomes. Recently the liposome formulations are aimed at reducing toxicity and increasing accumulation at the target sites. This review showcases stealth liposomes, their methods of preparation, uses and alternative polymers to PEG.

Keywords: Liposome, conventional, stealth, PEG.