title: Nanostructured self assembled lipid materials for drug delivery and tissue engineering.
abstract: Every living organism comprises of lipids as basic building blocks in addition to other components. Utilizing these lipids for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications can overcome biocompatibility and biodegradability issues. A well known example is liposomes (lipids arranged in lamellar structures), but other than that there are additional unique mesophasic structures of lipids formed as a result of lipid polymorphisms, which include cubic-, hexagonal- or sponge-phase structures. These structures provide the advantages of stability and production feasibility compared with liposomes. Cubosomes, which exist in a cubic structure, have improved stability, bioadhesivity and biocompatibility. Hexagonal phases or hexosomes exhibit hexagonal arrangements and can encapsulate different drugs with high stability. Lipids also forms tube-like structures known as tubules and ribbons that are also utilized in different biomedical applications, especially in tissue engineering. Immune stimulating complexes are nanocage-like structures formed as a result of interactions of lipid, antigen and Quillaja saponin. These lipidic mesophasic structures have been utilized for gene, vaccine and drug delivery. This article addresses lipid self-assembled supramolecular nanostructures, including cubosomes, hexosomes, tubules, ribbons, cochleates, lipoplexes and immune stimulating complexes and their biomedical applications.
authors: WRCBB, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai-400076, India.
authors: Thanigaivel
authors: T
authors: Shanmugam
authors: Rinti
authors: R
authors: Banerjee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D004355:Drug Stability; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D008081:Liposomes; D049329:Nanostructures; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods; D014612:Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D008081:Liposomes; D014612:Vaccines