Thermosensitive polymer-modified liposomes

Temperature-sensitive liposomes are considered to be a promising tool to achieve site-specific delivery of drugs. These liposomes have been prepared using lipids whose membranes undergo a gel-to-liquid crystalline phase transition a few degrees above physiological temperature. However, recently, temperature-sensitization of liposomes has been attempted using thermosensitive polymers. So far, functional liposomes whose contents release behavior, surface properties, and affinity to cell surface can be controlled in a temperature-dependent manner, have been developed according to this strategy. The design and function of these thermosensitive polymer-modified liposomes have been outlined in this review. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.