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Elastic Liposomes for Topical and Transdermal Drug Delivery

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Liposomes

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 605))

Abstract

Elastic liposomes have been developed and evaluated as novel topical and transdermal delivery systems. They are similar to conventional liposomes but with the incorporation of an edge activator in the lipid bilayer structure to provide elasticity. Elastic liposomes are applied non-occluded to the skin and have been shown to permeate through the stratum corneum lipid lamellar regions as a result of the hydration or osmotic force in the skin. They have been investigated as drug carriers for a range of small molecules, peptides, proteins and vaccines, both in vitro and in vivo. Following topical application, structural changes in the stratum corneum have been identified and intact elastic liposomes visualised within the stratum corneum lipid lamellar regions, but no intact liposomes have been identified in the deeper viable tissues. The method by which they transport their drug payload into and through the skin has been investigated but remains an area of contention. This chapter provides an overview of the development, characterisation and evaluation of elastic liposomes for delivery into and via the skin.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Pharmacy, Curtin University of Technology, Perth, WA, Australia

    Heather A. E. Benson

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  1. Heather A. E. Benson
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Correspondence to Heather A. E. Benson .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. College of Pharmacy, Midwestern University, N. 59th Avenue 19555, Glendale, 85308, U.S.A.

    Volkmar Weissig

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© 2010 Humana Press, a part of Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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Benson, H.A.E. (2010). Elastic Liposomes for Topical and Transdermal Drug Delivery. In: Weissig, V. (eds) Liposomes. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 605. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-360-2_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-360-2_4

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-60327-359-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-60327-360-2

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