Summary

Liposomal drug delivery is an advanced method for improving the efficacy and reducing the toxicity of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs by encapsulating them in phospholipid bilayer vesicles that mimic cell membranes, with potential applications in slowing aging through enhanced NAD+ levels.

Abstract

Liposomes are microscopic vesicles composed of phospholipid bilayers that closely resemble cell membranes, used for targeted drug delivery. This technology enhances the bioavailability, biocompatibility, and biodegradability of drugs, while also protecting them from degradation in the body. Liposomal NMN+ is particularly highlighted for its role in increasing NAD+ levels, which is crucial for energy production, DNA repair, and the activation of sirtuins, thereby potentially mitigating age-related diseases. The liposomal encapsulation ensures that drugs are delivered directly to target cells, improving treatment efficacy and minimizing side effects.

Opinions

Liposomal drug delivery is considered a significant advancement in medical and biotechnological fields due to its targeted approach and ability to enhance drug effectiveness.
The inclusion of cholesterol in liposome formulations is seen as crucial for stabilizing the vesicles and ensuring the controlled release of the encapsulated drug.
Modifying liposome surfaces with polymers, proteins, or other substances is believed to improve their stability and absorption in the gastrointestinal tract, enhancing oral drug delivery.
Liposomal NMN+ is touted as a highly effective supplement for increasing NAD+ levels, with the potential to combat aging and age-related conditions such as muscle loss and neurodegenerative diseases.
The use of liposomal technology for NMN+ delivery is presented as superior to traditional methods, with better absorption and delivery efficacy.

What is the Liposome and the Liposomal Drug Delivery?

Actively Boosting NAD+ Levels for Slow Aging

The Structure of a Liposome

Liposomes are described as sphere-shaped vesicles having a strong resemblance to the cell membrane. They are used as a very advanced technology for the effective delivery of drugs and active molecules to the desired site in the body. The name is derived from two Greek words “lipo” meaning “fat” and soma meaning “body”. Liposomes are artificial vesicles consisting of two or more concentric phospholipid bilayers. Phospholipids are a group of lipids that consist of two hydrophobic or lipophilic (fat-loving) tails and one hydrophilic (water-loving) head.

Liposomes are artificially made vesicles resembling cell membranes. They are particles with sizes ranging from 30 nanometers to several micrometers. There are several methods of liposome preparation. After preparation, liposomes are enhanced in physicochemical properties for stabilized biological characteristics.

Credit: Capsularis

Liposomes have liquid or aquose core.The phospholipid bilayers when exposed to water form a surface that is repelled by water while hydrophilic heads are attracted by water. In the environment of a single cell, one group of hydrophilic heads faces inside the cell while the other group of heads faces outside. Thus imitating the bilayer structure of a cell membrane.

Credit: Microfluidics

What Is the Liposomal Technology of Drug Delivery?

The technology of liposomal drug delivery aims at improving the effectiveness of drug delivery and minimizing toxicity. The liposomal method is controlled drug delivery to the targeted site. Liposomal form of delivery can address different diseases and spots via dermal, oral, pulmonary, and parenteral routes. But the design and activity pattern of liposomes also differs for targeting different diseases and sites.

Due to their size and phospholipid bilayer characteristics, liposomes are believed to be a promising method of drug delivery. That said, they can encapsulate both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs. There are several benefits of liposomal drug delivery: liposomal drug delivery technology is believed to have high bioavailability, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. In addition, many studies have been done to decrease toxicity, and increase antitumor efficiency.

The liposome, a small cell-membrane-like vesicle is made of non-toxic phospholipids and cholesterol. Cholesterol stabilizes the liposomal vesicles in a physiological environment. Hence, decreasing the probability of leakage and premature release of liposomal drugs at room temperature. The presence of cholesterol in liposomes asserts their ability to encapsulate and deliver drugs onto the targeted spot. Studies show that due to these characteristics, cholesterol becomes a key ingredient in liposome formulation.

Imagine a liposome as a droplet of oil in the water. Oil droplets in the water immediately repel water and form a spherical shape. However, unlike droplets of oil, liposomes, due to their bilayer properties, form a capsule that can entrap various therapeutic agents like anticancer drugs, vaccines, antimicrobials, genetic materials, proteins, macromolecules. Liposomes carry the drug and release it at the target cells.

The technology of liposomal drug delivery is gaining popularity in modern medical and biotechnological clinics. Liposomes can build a shield around a drug and pass it through enzymes of the mouth and stomach, alkaline solutions, digestive juices as well as free radicals. Hence, liposomal drugs are resistant to oxidation and degeneration in the human body. These structural properties allow liposomes to fuse with cells and release drugs easily.

How do liposomes overcome a harsh gastrointestinal — liver pathway environment? The most remarkable advantage of liposomes is that it is easy to modify the liposomal surfaces to endow the vesicles with unique properties. To overcome harsh gastrointestinal environments like gastric acid, bile salts, and enzymes, liposome membrane composition is modulated, the surface is coated with polymers and proteins, and liposomes interior is thickened. These modifications provide stability and absorption of liposomes for oral drug delivery.

Another potential advantage of liposomes is their ability to contact the surfaces, thereby increasing the probability of drug absorption. This can be done by inducing specific cells to react to and absorb the liposomes. The liposome membrane surface structure is modified for specific drug targeting by changing the ionic charge on the membrane or adding specific proteins, antibodies, or immunoglobulins, for example, liposomes with specific proteins attached to membrane snag to specific cells. These targeting properties increase the affinity of liposomes to specific cells

Liposomal NMN+ to Increase NAD+ levels

The traditional method of drug delivery shows low efficacy on absorption and delivery. So, scientists suggest a new method of using liposomal technology. The oral use of NMN showed significant beneficial improvements on diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and other neurodegenerative diseases.

NAD+ is a very important molecule in the cell and provides the body with energy. They help in facilitating muscle-building processes in the body, DNA repair, and Sirtuin activation. The process of slow aging mainly depends on this key molecule. While growing old NAD+ levels drop. NMN+ supplementation can enhance the levels of NAD+in the cell.

NMN turns into NAD+ in tissues and has the power to suppress age-related muscle loss, weight gain. NMN enhances energy metabolism in the cell and prevents age-related changes in gene expression. NMN is also a good protector against inflammaging- accelerated aging process due to inflammation.

The liposomal NMN+ has a huge potential of reaching the focused cells aiming to reverse the aging process.

Hello100 Liposomal NMN+ contains all the advantages to boost NAD+ levels and mitigate age-related diseases.