Liposomic drug-delivery vehicles

A method of treating a synovial joint disorder in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject a liposome comprising:

• a) at least one bilayer-forming lipid;
• b) a polymeric compound having the general formula I:
• wherein:
• m is zero or a positive integer;
• n is an integer which is at least 3;
• Y is a backbone unit which forms a polymeric backbone;
• L is absent or is a linking moiety;
• and
• Z has the general formula II:
• wherein:
• A is a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon;
• B is an oxygen atom;
• R1-R3 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, heteroalicyclic, aryl and heteroaryl;
• and
• X is a lipid moiety having the general formula III:
• wherein:
• W1 and W2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl and acyl, wherein at least one of W1 and W2 is not hydrogen;
• J is —P(═O)(OH)—O— or absent;
• K is a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in length, or absent;
• M is a linking group selected from the group consisting of —O—, —S—, amino, sulfinyl, sulfonyl, phosphate, phosphonyl, phosphinyl, carbonyl, thiocarbonyl, urea, thiourea, carbamyl, thiocarbamyl, amido, carboxy, and sulfonamide, or absent;
• and
• Q is a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in length,
• wherein when M is absent, K is also absent;
• and
• c) a therapeutically active agent, incorporated in the liposome and/or on a surface of the liposome, said therapeutically active agent being selected from an analgesic, an anti-inflammatory agent, an anti-proliferative agent, an anti-microbial agent, and a vaccine antigen,
• thereby treating the synovial joint disorder.