STEALTH LIPOSOMES

Stealth liposomes are liposomes that evade detection in an immune system. Stealth liposomes are also known as immunoliposomes. Conventional liposomes are not stable for long periods of time, especially when injected into a body. Stealth liposomes have been designed to circulate for longer periods of time in vivo , but they are different from "long-circulating liposomes". Stealth liposomes use poly-(ethylene glycol) or PEG as a steric stabilizer. The properties of the stealth liposome depend on the way PEG is linked to the lipids. It is important to note that stealth liposomes are not fully inert vesicles; they can eventually become detected by the immune system (it is just a slower process). Another application of stealth liposomes is to have slow release of therapeutic compounds in vivo or for imaging purposes. Table 2 from “Stealth liposomes: review of the basic science, rationale, and clinical applications, existing and potential,” shows some applications of stealth liposomes.