- Liposomes have a phospholipid bilayer and a water core, so they can carry both lipophilic and water-soluble actives.
- Nanoemulsions are oil droplets in water, suited to oil-soluble actives; micelles are very small and mainly solubilise lipophilic actives.
- Typical size ranges overlap, so size alone does not identify the carrier.
- The right choice depends on the active, the format, the label and the regulatory context.
Three carriers
Liposomes
Spherical vesicles with a phospholipid bilayer around an aqueous core. They can hold lipophilic actives in the bilayer and water-soluble actives in the core, and they are built from the same lipids found in cell membranes.
Nanoemulsions
Tiny droplets of oil dispersed in water (or the reverse), stabilised by surfactants. The active dissolves in the oil phase, so they suit oil-soluble actives. They have no aqueous core and no bilayer.
Micelles
Self-assembled clusters of surfactant molecules with an oily centre and a water-friendly outside. They solubilise lipophilic actives very effectively at small sizes, but their capacity is limited and they depend on the surfactant staying above the concentration at which micelles form.
Side by side
| Liposome | Nanoemulsion | Micelle | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | Phospholipid bilayer around an aqueous core | Oil droplet stabilised by surfactant | Surfactant cluster with an oily centre |
| Carries | Lipophilic and water-soluble actives | Oil-soluble actives | Lipophilic actives (limited load) |
| Typical size | Tens to a few hundred nm | Tens to a couple of hundred nm | Typically under about 100 nm |
| Main material | Phospholipids | Oil plus surfactant | Surfactants |
| Strengths | Versatile cargo; membrane-like lipids; protects the core | Simple to make at scale; high oil-phase loading | Very small and clear; strong solubilisation |
| Watch-outs | Needs care for oxidation, aggregation and leakage | Surfactant level and droplet growth over time | Dilution can break micelles; surfactant tolerance |
Ranges are indicative and overlap between carriers, which is why a size on its own does not tell you what a product contains. Structure is confirmed by the supplier's characterisation, not by the label.
How to choose
- Start with the active. Oil-soluble only, or a mix of oil- and water-soluble? A mixed or water-soluble active points towards liposomes.
- Consider the label. Phospholipid-based carriers can be plant-derived and avoid synthetic surfactants, which some brands prefer.
- Think about the format. Clear liquids, capsule fills, gels and powders each stress a carrier differently.
- Check the dose. A high-load active may need an oil-phase carrier; a modest-load active suits liposomes well.
- Ask for data on your active. Performance in one carrier does not transfer to another.
What to check on a spec
- Which carrier it actually is, and the lipid or surfactant used
- Average size and PDI per batch, with the method
- Encapsulation or loading, and how it was measured
- Stability in your format and storage condition
- Documentation: specification, Certificate of Analysis and technical dossier
What Lipologics provides
Lipologics focuses on nano-liposomes: plant-based phosphatidylcholine vesicles of 50 nm to under 200 nm on the HNOVA™ platform, made in Jigani, Bengaluru, across 39+ actives in six brands. Learn how liposomal compares with conventional forms, see how liposomes are made, or talk to the team about the right carrier for your active.
