Liposomes in controlled drug delivery: Controlling drug release kinetics and biodistribution/pharmacokinetics

Abstract

Controlling the release of liposomally associated drug is expected to directly impact the therapeutic potential of liposomal formulation, both as improved therapeutic efficacy as well as reduced unwanted effects of a drug. To fully control the efficacy of liposomally associated drug, the liposomes need to be able to both control the rate at which the drug is released from liposomal carrier as well as be tailored to assure the prediction where, when and how the liposomal cargo will be delivered. Optimizing liposomes able to efficiently reach the final target, even at subcellular level, has been focus of many preclinical and clinical attempts to control drug delivery via liposomes as carriers. In recent years we witnessed an increase in development of smart, or stimuli-responsive, liposomes that utilize specific stimuli to control release of liposomal drugs. The chapter provides an overview over strategies employed so far to reach the goals as well as involves comments on how to overcome the current limitations regarding optimization of liposomal carries.