Preface

Liposome technology has captivated academics and inventors for over five decades, with unrivalled applications in medicine delivery, vaccine development, cosmetics, agriculture, and environmental science. Liposomes, the first nanomedicine to be licensed for human use, are notable for their biocompatibility and biodegradability, originating from their structural similarities to our cell membranes. Today, more than 30 authorized liposomal medicinal solutions address significant health issues, demonstrating the importance of liposomes in modern science and technology. Milestones in liposome technology include the development of PEGylated and cationic liposomes, pH-sensitive systems for gene delivery, and scalable microfluidic production processes, underscoring their continuing impact on modern science and medicine.

This book offers an approachable introduction to liposome technology, connecting fundamental ideas with current advances to appeal to both novice and expert researchers. It covers both traditional and new liposome preparation methods, describing mechanics in a straightforward yet extensive manner. Liposomes are commonly utilised in drug delivery systems for targeted therapy and vaccine development in pharmaceutics, but they also have uses in cosmetics, agriculture, and environmental research. Liposomes serve as excellent model membranes for researching mechanical characteristics, transport properties, curvature dynamics, and pore formation. The book is structured into two comprehensive parts. The first part focuses on lipid chemistry and physics, exploring their classes, advanced extraction techniques, purification methods, and the thermodynamics of bilayer formation, establishing a strong foundation for liposome science. The second part focuses on modern advancements, including microfluidic techniques for liposome synthesis and their applications in medical, non-medical, and model membrane studies.

I believe that this book will be a great resource for researchers, students, instructors, scientists, and academics all across the world, motivating more investigation into the enormous possibilities of liposome technology. I cordially welcome readers to provide feedback and thoughts, which will be useful in improving and refining future versions of this book. Chandra