Extrusion technique for producing unilamellar vesicles
AssigneeThe Liposome Company, Inc.
InventorsPieter R. Cullis, Michael J. Hope, Marcel B. Bally
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Abstract
A method for reducing the lamellarity of a population of liposomes is provided which comprises repeatedly passing the liposomes under pressure through a filter which has a pore size equal to or less than about 100 nm. In certain embodiments, the method is used to convert a population of previously formed multilamellar liposomes into a population of substantially unilamellar liposomes. In accordance with other aspects of the disclosure, liposomes are prepared directly from a lipid powder or pellet and buffer without the use of any solvents, detergents or other extraneous materials.
Claims29
A method for reducing the lamellarity of a population of liposomes comprising repeatedly passing the liposomes under pressure through a filter which has a pore size (equal to or less than) no larger than about 100 nm.
A method for preparing a population of substantially unilamellar liposomes comprising the steps of:
- (a) preparing multilamellar liposomes;
- and
- (b) repeatedly passing the liposomes under pressure through a filter which has a pore size no larger than about 100 nm.
A method for preparing liposomes without the use of solvents, detergents or other extraneous materials comprising the steps of:
- (a) preparing a mixture of a lipid powder or pellet and an aqueous buffer;
- and
- (b) repeatedly passing the mixture under pressure through a filter, wherein the filter has a pore size less than or equal to about 100 nm, the mixture is passed through the filter more than two times, and the resulting liposomes are substantially unilamellar.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.