Liposomal Antibiotics for the Treatment of Infectious Diseases

Abstract

Liposomal delivery systems have been utilized in developing effective therapeutics against cancer and targeting microorganisms in and out of host cells and within biofilm community. The most attractive feature of liposome-based drugs are enhancing therapeutic index of the new or existing drugs while minimizing their adverse effects. This communication provides an overview on several aspects of liposomal antibiotics including the most widely used preparation techniques for encapsulating different agents and the most important characteristic parameters applied for examining shape, size and stability of the spherical vesicles. In addition, the routes of administration, liposome--cell interactions and host parameters affecting the bio distribution of liposomes are highlighted. Liposomes are safe and suitable for delivery of variety of molecules and drugs in biomedical research and medicine. They are known to improve the therapeutic index of encapsulated agents and reduce drug toxic- ity. Recent studies on liposomal formulation of chemotherapeutic and bioac- tive agents and their targeted delivery show liposomal antibiotics potential in the treatment of microbial infections.