چکیده (انگلیسی):

Liposomes are self-assembling vesicles with an inner aqueous compartment surrounded by a lipid bilayer that commonly consists of phospholipids1 and choles-terol. Both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs can be effectively encapsulated into liposomes. Hydrophilic drugs can be encapsulated into the interior aqueous compartment, whereas lipophilic and amphiphilic drugs can be embedded in the liposome bilayers.2 In either case, the systemic environment recognizes only the liposomes and not the free drug. The pharmacoki-netic profile of the drug is determined by the physico-chemical properties of the liposomes. In addition to low intrinsic toxicity and protection of drugs from deg-radation in the systemic circulation, liposomes accumu-late in the tumor cells (enhanced permeation and reten-tion effect)3 making them a desirable delivery system for anticancer drugs. This enhanced permeation and retention of liposomes is due to the leaky blood vessels in the tumors, less dense cellular packing, and marginal expression of the lymphatic system (which removes liposomes from the tissues and organs) at tumor sites.