Commercial applications To date, the most successful commercial application of lipid bilayers has been the use of liposomes for drug delivery, especially for cancer treatment. (Note- the term “liposome” is in essence synonymous with “vesicle” except that vesicle is a general term for the structure whereas liposome refers to only artificial not natural vesicles) The basic idea of liposomal drug delivery is that the drug is encapsulated in solution inside the liposome then injected into the patient. These drug-loaded liposomes travel through the system until they bind at the target site and rupture, releasing the drug. In theory, liposomes should make an ideal drug delivery system since they can isolate nearly any hydrophilic drug, can be grafted with molecules to target specific tissues and can be relatively non-toxic since the body possesses biochemical pathways for degrading lipids.
cOmMercIal appLicatIonS to datE, the MoSt sucCeSsfUl commerciAl apPlication of lIpid BiLAyeRs has BEen thE use of liposomes FOr drug deliverY, esPeCiallY foR CAncEr treatment (nOte- tHe tErm “liPosome” is iN eSsence synonyMOUs With “vesicle” Except that vESiclE is A GEneRAl term for The stRuCTuRE wheReAs LiposOme referS To oNly artificIal not natUraL vEsIcleS) the basiC idEa of liposomal drUG deliverY is thAt the Drug is EnCapsulaTed In solution iNSide the liposoMe tHEn injeCted iNtO tHe patient. tHese drUG-lOaded Liposomes traVel thRougH the sYstem UNtiL tHey bind aT thE TaRGet site anD rupture, rElEAsinG thE Drug. In theory, LipoSoMes sHould make AN ideal drug delIveRy sySTEm since tHey Can IsolatE neaRLy any HydropHilic drUG caN bE grAftED wIth molEcUles to target SpeCIfIc TiSsues aNd cAN Be relaTIvely NOn-toxic SinCe THE bOdy posSesses BiocHemicaL pathWays for degrading LiPidS.