Applications des liposomes dans l’industrie pharmaceutique et cosmétique

Abstract

Liposomes are nano- or micrometric spherical vesicles consisting of an aqueous core surrounded by one or more phospholipid bilayers. Their classification is based primarily on their size and lamellarity, but also on their surface properties: conventional, stealth, actively targeted, or stimuli-responsive liposomes. Their preparation involves various methods. The oldest is the lipid film hydration method (Bangham method). Other conventional techniques include solvent or detergent removal. However, some of these methods involve toxic solvents, offer limited control over size and lamellarity, and present challenges in terms of purification, yield, and scalability. Since the late 1990s, supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂)-based processes have emerged, limiting the use of organic solvents while providing better size control and greater industrial compatibility. Drug encapsulation can be passive (integrated during liposome formation) or active (loaded after formation). Primarily administered parenterally, liposomes require sterility, ensured either by filtration or aseptic manufacturing. They are fragile and prone to physical (fusion, aggregation) and chemical (hydrolysis, oxidation) instability, hence the need for preservation by lyophilization or freezing. Liposomes are widely used in therapeutics, particularly in oncology, as well as in infectious diseases, vaccinology, gene therapy, and in inflammatory or autoimmune diseases. To date, more than 15 liposomal drugs have received marketing authorization (the first being Doxil®, approved by the FDA in 1995), due to their targeting capability, protection of active ingredients, reduction of systemic side effects, and prolonged drug release. In cosmetology, liposomes are used to encapsulate cosmetic actives (retinol, hyaluronic acid, peptides, and vitamins), enhancing their protection, skin penetration, reducing irritation, and prolonging release, thereby improving their effectiveness. Despite technical and economic challenges, the future of liposomes is promising. Advances in targeted delivery, manufacturing processes, and nucleic acid (mRNA/DNA) encapsulation are paving the way for new treatments, particularly in precision medicine and gene therapy