Modification of liposomal surface by polysaccharides: Preparation, characterization, and application for drug targeting

Polysaccharides are important group of compounds used in pharmaceutical industry. Their utilization in formulation of potential nanomedicine drug carriers includes formulation of nanoparticles from polysaccharides itself, encapsulation of polysaccharides into different types of nanoparticle-based drug carriers as well as their surface
modification. Different strategies have been developed for modification of the liposomal surface including hydrophobization of polysaccharides, and their palmitoyl or cholesteroyl derivatives. Polysaccharides are attractive polymers for surface coating because of their stabilization effect during technological processes like lyophilization
or spray-drying, protein-rejecting ability, biodegradability, and low toxicity.
Several polysaccharides for modification of liposomes including hyaluronic acid (HA), mannans, cellulose derivatives, alginates, and dextrans are currently explored and polysaccharide-modified liposomes are used in variety of biomedical application.