Ultrasound-assisted applications of liposomes

Interest in analytical uses of liposomes is growing steadily as shown by the publication of large number of articles on this topio [71,81]. Applioations have used various techniques including liquid chromatography, oapillary eleotrophoresis, immunoassay and sensors. The results warrant some interesting oonclusions from the bioanalytical, medical and pharmaceutical points of view. 

Those anaiytioai systems where liposomes are used as artificial cell membranes to study body distribution mechanisms as efficient drug-delivery systems, controlled drug delivery, the synthesis of new biomaterial for tissue engineering and gene therapy are worthy of special mention. 

Ultrasound-assisted preparation of liposome-based sensors 

Ultrasound can play a prominent role in the preparation of sensors such as that developed by Nguyen et al. [87], which required sonication of a mixture of tetramethylorthosilicate. 

The two previous examples testify to the effectiveness of US for liposome preparation without degradation problems. Its advantages can be extended to other analytical techniques such as liquid chromatography and capillary electrophoresis, where US can help in the immobilization of liposomes to be used as stationary phases. 

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