Liposome encapsulation is a versatile platform in advanced drug delivery that leverages tiny vesicles to carry a wide range of payloads. Liposomes are small, spherical structures formed by one or more phospholipid bilayers that enclose an aqueous core. This architecture allows water-soluble components to reside inside the core, while lipophilic elements partition into the bilayer. By tuning size, surface charge, and lipid makeup, liposome encapsulation can influence loading and release profiles as well as how particles behave in a given system. The process and controls behind liposome encapsulation are central to its function. Common preparation approaches include thin-film hydration, reverse-phase evaporation, and ethanol injection, followed by size refinement through extrusion or sonication. Surface modifications—such as grafting polyethylene glycol (PEG) chains—can alter dispersion stability and circulation characteristics, while targeting ligands attached to the surface enable specific interactions with chosen surfaces or receptors. These techniques are often complemented by advances in microfluidic methods that enable scalable and reproducible production. Design and characterization of liposome encapsulation focus on payload loading, stability, and release behavior. Encapsulation efficiency and loading capacity depend on lipid composition, preparation conditions, and the physicochemical properties of the payload. Lipid bilayer rigidity, phase transition temperature, and the inclusion of helper lipids influence permeability and release kinetics. Characterization tools such as dynamic light scattering for size, zeta potential for surface charge, and cryo-electron microscopy for morphology, together with encapsulation metrics and stability assays, help define performance attributes and quality attributes for further development. From formulation science to translational considerations, liposome encapsulation sits at the intersection of materials science, process engineering, and regulatory study. Discussions often cover routes of administration, storage stability, and the quality-control framework necessary for manufacturing scalability. As researchers and developers push the boundaries of this technology, the emphasis remains on understanding the mechanisms, optimizing performance, and navigating the pathways for broader evaluation and adoption. Explore resources that explain how liposome encapsulation works, the factors that govern its behavior, and the design choices that shape its applications.
