The potential of liposomes in oral drug delivery.

Oral liposome drug delivery has been the subject of much cynicism. Results have been quite variable and, for the most part, have not been predicated on specific objectives that would lead to success. Prerequisites are stability in the gastrointestinal environment and binding to specific sites. Transport via paracellular and transcellular routes from normal epithelial tissue or Peyer's patches leads to different outcomes of drug delivery and immunization, respectively. Polymerized, microencapsulated, and polymer-coated liposomes have all increased the potential of oral liposomes. Using targeted liposomes and a greater understanding of their cellular processing will ultimately lead to effective therapies from oral liposomes.