[Excerpt] Nanoliposomes are new technological developments for the encapsulation and delivery of bioactive agents. Because of their biocompatibility and biodegradability, along with their size, nanoliposomes have potential applications in a vast range of fields, including nanotherapy. Nanoliposomes are able to enhance the performance of bioactive agents by improving their bioavailability, in vitro and in vivo stability, as well as preventing their unwanted interactions with other molecules [1]. Nanoliposomes may contain, in addition to phospholipids, other molecules such as cholesterol (Ch) which is an important component of most natural membranes. The incorporation of Ch can increase stability by modulating the fluidity of the lipid bilayer preventing crystallization of the phospholipid acyl chains and providing steric hindrance to their movement. Further advances in liposome research found that polyethylene glycol (PEG), which is inert in the body, allows longer circulatory life of the drug delivery system [2]. [...]This work was funded by FCT-Portugal and FEDER through CFUM, CQ-UM, Project PTDC/QUI/81238/2006 (cofinanced by FCT and by program FEDER/COMPETE, ref. FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-007467) and Post-doc. grant of A.S. Abreu (SFRH/BPD/24548/2005)
