Abstract

In this article information about various methods of liposome preparation (including the large scale manufacture) has been reviewed. The advantages and disadvantages of the methods have been described in terms of size distribution and encapsulation efficiency. Liposomes are simple microscopic vesicles in which lipid bilayer structures are present with  an aqueous volume entirely enclosed by a membrane, composed of lipid molecule. There are a number of components present in liposomes, with phospholipid and cholesterol being the main ingredients. Liposomes  having concentric phospholipid bilayers molecules from low molecular weight (glucose) to high molecular weight (peptides and proteins) have been incorporated in liposomes. The water soluble compounds/drugs are present in aqueous compartments while lipid soluble compounds/drugs and amphiphilic compounds/drugs insert themselves in phospholipid bilayers.The type of phospholipids includes phosphoglycerides and sphingolipids, and together with their hydrolysis products. Classification of liposomes is based on lamellae and composition and on the basis of size and number of lamellae.