Abstract: A pharmacological agent-lipid solution preparation comprising a lipophilic pharmacological agent, a desalted charged lipid and an aqueous-miscible lipid solvent such that upon introduction into an aqueous medium a suspension of lipid aggregates associated with the pharmacological agent are formed, and methods of manufacture and use.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel liposomes and liposome-like structures (vesicles) comprising an amount of a derivatized sterol either alone or in combination with additional liposome-forming lipids.Sterols such as cholesterol or other lipids, to which numerous charged or neutral groups are attached, may be used to prepare liposomes and liposome-like structures such as micelles, reverse micelles and hexagonal phases, suspensions of multilamellar vesicles or small unilamellar vesicles. The novel liposomes of the present invention may be prepared with or without the use of organic solvents. These vesicles may entrap compounds varying in polarity and solubility in water and other solvents.

Abstract: A process for the separation and purification of individual phospholipids, especially phosphatidylcholine or lecithin and phosphatidylethanolaine, from mixtures containing members of the sub-class of phosphatides, incorporating methods of solvent extraction appropriate to the scale of the sample and utilizing an acetonitrile, acetonitrile-hydrocarbon, or acetonitrile-fluorocarbon solvent, which exhibit differential solubility properties towards the individual phospholipids.

Abstract: A liposome composition and methods for making same are disclosed, such compositions comprise an arachidonic acid metabolite such as a prostaglandin, preferably prostaglandin E.sub.1, a lipid, and a drying protectant such as a saccharide. The liposomes may be loaded with prostaglandin passively, or using a transmembrane concentration gradient, preferably using a transmembrane pH gradient. Using this transmembrane loading technique, trapping efficiencies of 50% to 100% are achieved, and the release rate of the prostaglandin from the liposomes is reduced. The liposome size is maintained after lyophilization and reconstitution.

Abstract: Methods for encapsulating ionizable antineoplastic agents in liposomes using transmembrane potentials are provided. Trapping efficiencies approaching 100% and rapid loading are readily achieved. Dehydration protocols which allow liposomes to be conveniently used in the administration of antineoplastic agents in a clinical setting are also provided. In accordance with other aspects of the invention, transmembrane potentials are used to reduce the rate of release of ionizable drugs from liposomes.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a general method for producing sized protein-liposome conjugates exhibiting enhanced blood circulation times. The present invention also relates to the sized protein-liposome conjugate compositions produced by the method of the present invention. The protein-liposome conjugates of the present invention preferably range in size from about 75 nm to about 200 nm.The liposomes of the invention may have a transmembrane potential across their membranes, and may be dehydrated. In addition, the composition may contain ionizable bioactive agents such as antineplastic agents, and may be used in diagnostic assays.

Abstract: Preparations of drugs in admixture with certain ligands are described which, when administered to animals or humans, are less toxic than conventional drug preparations. Although the toxicity of the drug-ligand preparations described is greatly reduced, the drug retains pharmacological activity.

Abstract: Osmotically derived liposomal vesicles loaded with an active agent are disclosed. Liposomes, including an entrapped osmotic agent, are contacted one or more times with a washing solution which is hypotonic to the entrapped osmotic agent and which contains active agent. The entrapped osmotic agent in the liposome and the active agent in the washing solution are each present in concentrations causing the liposomes to swell, rupture under osmotic pressure, spill osmotic agent into the washing solution and re-form to encapsulate active agent.

Abstract: The present invention describes a composition consisting of liposomes covalently or non-covalently coupled to the glycoprotein streptavidin. The streptavidin may additionally be coupled to biotinated proteins such as Immunoglobulin G or monoclonal antibodies. The liposomes of the invention may have a transmembrane potential across their membranes, and may be dehydrated. In addition, the composition may contain ionizable bioactive agents such as antineoplastic agents, and may be used in diagnostic assays.This is a divisional application of copending application Ser. No. 941,913, filed Dec. 15, 1986, which is now U.S. Pat. No. 4,885,172, which is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 811,037, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 749,161, filed June 26, 1985, both now abandoned and copending application Ser. No. 759,419, filed July 26, 1985 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,870,635.

Abstract: Methods and compositions are described for the preparation of alpha-tocopherol vesicles, the bilayers of which comprise a salt form of an organic acid derivative of alpha-tocopherol such as the Tris salt form of alpha-tocopherol hemisuccinate. The method is rapid and efficient and does not require the use of organic solvents. The alpha-tocopherol vesicles may be used to entrap compounds which are insoluble in aqueous solutions. Such preparations are especially useful for entrapping bioactive agents of limited solubility, thus enabling administration in vivo.

Abstract: A new and substantially improved type of lipid vesicle, called stable plurilamellar vesicles (SPLVs), are described, as well as the process for making the same and X-ray diffraction methods for identifying the same. SPLVs are characterized by lipid bilayers enclosing aqueous compartments containing one or more entrapped solutes, the concentration of such solutes in each aqueous compartment being substantially equal to the concentration of solutes used to prepare the SPLVs. The bilayers of SPLVs are substantially non-compressed. SPLVs are stable during storage and can be used in vivo for the sustained release of compounds and in the treatment of disease.

Abstract: An adjuvant composition comprising a small liposome with incubation associated immuno-potentiator such as Lipid A, said composition with incubation associated antigen, and method of preparation and use.

Abstract: A taste moderating composition comprising a liposome associated flavorant and method of preparation and use.

Abstract: A method for reducing the lamellarity of a population of liposomes is provided which comprises repeatedly passing the liposomes under pressure through a filter which has a pore size equal to or less than about 100 nm. In certain embodiments, the method is used to convert a population of previously formed multilamellar liposomes into a population of substantially unilamellar liposomes. In accordance with other aspects of the disclosure, liposomes are prepared directly from a lipid powder or pellet and buffer without the use of any solvents, detergents or other extraneous materials.

Abstract: The invention encompasses mixtures of antimicrobial agents coencapsulated in liposomes which when administered in vivo exert an enhanced therapeutic effect. The therapeutic effectiveness of the coencapsulated antimocrobial agents is greater than that of the same combination administered either in solution or as a mixture of liposome populations each containing one of the antimicrobial agents.

Abstract: A method of treating, by intramammary infusion of liposomes, Brucella spp. infections in an animal by administration of a therapeutically effective amount of aminoglycoside in liposome form, also being a method of administering a therapeutic agent in liposome form to a proximal mammary lymph node or mammary tissue of an animal.

Abstract: A multilamellar vesicle dispersed in an aqueous phase comprising an aqueous medium, a lipid concentration of at least about 50 mg/ml and a trapping efficiency of at least about 40 percent. The vesicle can be prepared by dispersing the lipid in an aqueous phase to form a multilamellar vesicle, rapidly freezing the multilamellar vesicle to obtain a frozen lipid-aqueous medium mixture, and warming the mixture to obtain a frozen and thawed multilamellar vesicle dispersed in an aqueous phase.

Abstract: A new method is disclosed for making unilamellar vesicles from multilamellar vesicles. Such vesicles are formed without the use of physical of chemical disruption processes known in the art for forming unilamellar vesicles. The liposomes are incubated at neutral pH at or near the transition temperature of the lipids used, in low ionic strength media such as distilled water. The liposomes may comprise bioactive agents and may be used in vivo or in vitro.

Abstract: A method and composition are described for the solubilization of hydrophobic materials using a lysophospholipid. The method includes drying a composition comprising a hydrophobic material-solubilizing effective amount of phospholipid from organic solvent and hydrating the resulting film with an aqueous medium at either a pH of between about 8.5 and about 14.0, or at pH 7.0 followed by reduction of the temperature to less then 0.degree. C.

Abstract: Preparations of drugs in admixture with certain ligands are described which, when administered to animals or humans, are less toxic than conventional drug preparations. Although the toxicity of the drug-ligand preparations described is greatly reduced, the drug retains pharmacological activity.