What is a common use of liposomes in medicine?

Liposomes are spherical vesicles made up of lipid bilayers, and they are commonly utilized in medicine primarily for drug delivery. The unique structure of liposomes allows them to encapsulate drugs, enhancing their solubility, stability, and bioavailability. This technology enables the controlled release of drugs at specific sites in the body, minimizing systemic side effects while maximizing therapeutic effects.

The versatility of liposomes also extends to their ability to encapsulate a variety of substances, including both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs, which makes them an invaluable tool for targeted therapy. By modifying the surface of liposomes, researchers can enhance their targeting capabilities to specific tissues or cells, thus increasing the efficacy of treatment regimens in diseases like cancer or bacterial infections.

While liposomes may have other applications, such as gene delivery, their primary and most established use in medicine is the delivery of pharmacological agents, making them a critical component in modern therapeutic strategies.