Self forming, thermodynamically stable liposomes and their applications

Abstract

Certain diacylglycerol-polyethyleneglycol (DAG-PEG) lipids are especially useful for forming thermodynamically stable liposomes. Such liposomes are useful for a variety of purposes, including the delivery of therapeutic agents.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A liposome comprising one or more lipids
 where one or more of the lipids is a diacylglycerol-polyethyleneglycol (PEG), selected from the group consisting of PEG-12 glycerol dioleate (GDO), PEG-12 glycerol dimyristate (GDM), PEG-23 glycerol dipalmitate (GDP), PEG-12 glycerol distearate (GDS), and PEG-23 GDS, where the number after “PEG” indicates the numbers of C 2 H 4 O subunits in the PEG chain.   
     
     
         2 . The liposome of  claim 1  further comprising an active compound. 
     
     
         3 . The liposome of  claim 2 , where the active compound is a protein, peptide, nucleic acid, agent for treating a neoplasm, agent for treating inflammation, agent for treating an infection, agent for treating a gasterointestinal disease, agent for treating an immunological disease, agent for treating a skin diseases or an eye disease, agent use in diagnosing disease, nutrient, agent for treating a blood disease, agent for treating a metabolic disease, agent for treating a cardiovascular disease, agent for treating a renal disease, agent for treating a genitourinary disease, agent for treating a respiratory disease or agent for treating a central nervous system disease. 
     
     
         4 . A method of preparing a liposome comprising combining an aqueous solution and a lipid solution, wherein the lipid solution comprises one or more of the lipids selected from the group consisting of PEG-12 glycerol dioleate (GDO), PEG-12 glycerol dimyristate (GDM), PEG-23 glycerol dipalmitate (GDP), PEG-12 glycerol distearate (GDS), and PEG-23 GDS, where the number after “PEG” indicates the numbers of C 2 H 4 O subunits in the PEG chain. the diacylglycerol-PEG lipid. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising combining an active compound with the lipid solution and the aqueous solution.