Liposomes:: Physicochemical and pharmacological properties, applications in antimony-based chemotherapy.

The use of organoantimonial complexes in the therapeutic of leishmaniasis and schistosomiasis has been limited mainly by the need for daily parenteral administration, their adverse side-effects and the appearance of drug resistance. Liposome encapsulation has been so far the most effective means to improve the efficacy of pentavalent antimonials against visceral leishmaniasis. Pharmacologically- and pharmaceutically-acceptable liposomal compositions are still being. investigated through manipulation of preparation method, lipid composition and vesicle size. Recently, the encapsulation of a trivalent antimonial within stealth liposomes was found to reduce its acute toxicity and effectively deliver this compound to the parasite in experimental schistosomiasis.