Hemp Therapies Wiki / Liposomal Delivery Systems

Liposomal Composition and Ingredients

A liposome’s structural ingredients — primarily phospholipids — determine its stability, flexibility, and how it’s formulated into a finished product.

The Primary Structural Ingredient

The primary structural ingredient of a liposome is phospholipid material, most commonly phosphatidylcholine. Phosphatidylcholine used in liposome production can be sourced from egg yolk, soybean lecithin, or sunflower lecithin, depending on the manufacturer. Sunflower lecithin is a substance extracted from sunflower seeds and is compositionally distinct from sunflower oil, which is simply pressed seed oil without concentrated phospholipid content. Manufacturers that avoid soy-derived lecithin commonly substitute non-GMO, sunflower-derived phosphatidylcholine as the bilayer-forming ingredient.

Other Formulation Ingredients

Cholesterol is sometimes added to a liposomal formulation, typically kept under roughly 30% of total lipid content, where it adjusts membrane rigidity and permeability. Some formulations incorporate phospholipids linked to polyethylene glycol (PEG), a surface modification commonly referred to as “PEGylation” or a “stealth” coating. Non-lipid excipients found in commercial liposomal liquids commonly include purified water, glycerin, and ethanol, used as solvents or carriers alongside the phospholipid shell. Capsule-based liposomal products may combine sunflower-derived phospholipids with additional solid matrix ingredients, such as rice bran wax fatty acids. Cryoprotectant sugars such as sucrose or trehalose, commonly at 5–10% concentration, can be added before freeze-drying to help preserve liposome structure in solid product formats. Surfactant-type “edge activator” ingredients, such as sodium cholate, Tween 80, or Span 60, are used in some specialized formulations to alter bilayer flexibility.

Summary

A liposome’s core ingredient is phospholipid, typically phosphatidylcholine sourced from egg, soy, or sunflower lecithin, with cholesterol, PEGylation, and various excipients added depending on the intended stability, formulation format, and manufacturer preference.