View source for Liposome

A liposome is a [[Lipid_bilayer|lipid bilayer]] in the form of a sphere which encapsulates a region of aqueous solution.

The name liposome is derived from two Greek words: 'Lipos' meaning fat and 'Soma' meaning body. The basic structure of the bilayer in liposomes is identical to the one in [[Cell_membrane|cell membranes]]; two layers of [[Phospholipid|phospholipids]] with the [[Hydrophobic|hydrophobic]] tails pointed inwards and the [[Hydrophilic|hydrophilic]] heads at the surface, interacting with the solution<ref>Peter Walter, Julian Lewis, Martin Raff, Keith Roberts, Alexander Johnson, Bruce Alberts (2007), Molecular Biology of the Cell 5th Edition, Garland Publishing Inc, Chapter 10</ref>.

As liposomes are versatile [[Vesicle|vesicles]] with respect to size and structure, they are frequently used by pharmaceutical companies for drug delivery. This is possible as they are able to transport [[Hydrophobic|hydrophobic]] molecules within their bilayer and [[Hydrophilic|hydrophilic]] molecules within the enclosed solution<ref>Raphael Michel, Tobias Plostica, Ludmila Abezgauz, Dganit Danino and Michael Gradzielski (2013), Control of the stability and structure of liposomes by means of nanoparticles. Soft Matter:9:4167-4177</ref>. The delivery of the drug into cells is done by the liposome bilayer fusing with the [[Cell_membrane|cell membrane]] and releasing the contents within the cell.

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