Deformable nano-scale vehicles (DNVS) for trans-blood brain barrier, trans-mucosal, and transdermal drug delivery

A deformable nanoscale drug delivery vehicle (DNV) for the delivery of a therapeutic agent to the brain of a mammal, said vehicle consisting of:

• a liposome consisting of a lipid bilayer disposed around an aqueous compartment and a therapeutic agent disposed inside said compartment wherein:
• said lipid bilayer consists of either at least two phospholipids or at least one phospholipid in combination with N-(2,3-Dioleoyloxy-1-propyl) trimethylammonium (DOTAP), cholesterol, and a non-ionic detergent, and where the w/w ratio of lipids, including cholesterol, to non-ionic detergent ranges from about 85:5 to about 85:20, and the ratio of total phospholipid to cholesterol ranges from about 12:2 to about 5:4, and where said liposome ranges from about 60 nm to about 150 nm average diameter;
• said therapeutic agent is usable for treatment of a neurological disorder;
• and
• said liposome is effective to retain said therapeutic agent when in circulation in the blood circulation and is capable of deforming sufficiently to pass through pores comprising the blood brain barrier of a mammal while retaining said therapeutic agent.