Liposomes are a leading drug delivery vehicle due to their versatility and ability to provide protection to encapsulated drugs, which enhances stability and prevents degradation. 

Liposomes consist of one or more lipid bilayers enclosing an aqueous core, and can be used to encapsulate and deliver a wide variety of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs. 

Cryo-TEM imaging studies can visualize individual liposome particles, and reveal particle morphology, lamellarity including bilayer thickness, uniformity, particle size distribution, estimations of PEG layer thickness, and cargo encapsulation. These values can be used to inform batch-to-batch, scale-up, and process development change comparisons.

Characterize individual liposomes with cryo-TEM imaging

Cryo-TEM can show you if each individual liposome is unilamellar, multilamellar, or multivesicular. Cryo-TEM imaging studies can also assist in determining PEG layer thickness. For a detailed 3D view of each particle, cryo-electron tomography can be performed.

Cryo-TEM images of two different drug delivery liposomal formulations by cryo-TEM
Cryo-TEM images of two different liposomal drug delivery formulations. (Left) highlighting bilayer thickness and particle size (green arrows), as well as drug packing and spacing due to the presence of PEG (green box); (Right) highlighting multivesicular (blue arrows) and unilamellar (pink arrows) particles in the formulation.

Lipid Nanoformulations We Can Image With Cryo or NS TEM

  • Micelles
  • Micelles
  • Lipid Nanoparticles (LNPs), with mRNA, RNA, DNA payloads
  • Lipid Nanoparticles (LNPs), with mRNA, RNA, DNA payloads

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Learn about Cryo-TEM Studies for Characterizing your Nanoparticles.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do you measure the PEG layer in liposome formulations?

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