Liposomes:a promising carrier for respiratory syncytial virus therapeutics

Abstract

Introduction: Human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common respiratory virus that causes severe lower respiratory tract infection in infants, children and aged adults. Currently, there is no active prophylaxis present in the market for RSV infection; however, there are over a dozen compounds being tested in the laboratory as well as clinical trials. To increase the efficiency and safety of these therapeutics, there is a need for delivery vehicles. Areas covered: Liposomes can be used for delivering anti-RSV agents with the advantage of modulating and eliciting the desired adjuvant effect by the different combination of lipids. This review discusses the promising application of liposome for anti-RSV therapeutics. Expert opinion: Liposomes are attracting attention for delivery of pulmonary therapeutics, since they offer compatibility for delivering drugs, vaccines and other therapeutic molecules. Variation in liposome size and composition gives flexibility for the amount and number of deliverables, whilst targeted delivery with the capability for immunomodulation makes liposomes a promising candidate for RSV therapeutic applications.