Preparation and use of liposomes in the treatment of microbial infections.

The potential application of liposomes to drug delivery has been apparent since 1965, when these phospholipid vesicles were first described by Bangham. Since then, experiments on animals have shown that liposome encapsulation can dramatically alter the distribution of drugs in the body and their rate of clearance. These pharmacokinetic differences, as well as other less well-understood effects, can result in reduced toxicity and enhanced efficacy of the encapsulated drug. The vast majority of studies on the therapeutic use of liposomes have involved the delivery of drugs used in cancer chemotherapy and metabolic storage diseases, but there is now more literature on the use of liposomes for the delivery of antimicrobial drugs and immunomodulating agents. This review briefly discusses the general properties of liposomes and the rationale for their use in antimicrobial drug delivery and immunomodulation, as well as the encapsulation of specific agents and the effect of encapsulation on the treatment of infectious diseases.