ABSTRACT
Liquid crystals as a drug delivery system is obviously potential in the field of drug delivery industry, but methods for making nanoparticles in large scale is a big task. This is wide field for concern scientist and researchers. Basically lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs), as nanoparticles (cubosomes and hexosomes) are in more attention for drug delivery applications. This attraction is due to various properties like multi-drug loading and high drug entrapment efficiency, as well as reduced toxicity and biodegradable nature. Another interesting thing is that LLC can release targeted by doing some functional modifications. Liquid crystals are basically found in three routes; molecular shape, micro-segregation effects and chirality. For a molecule to be working as liquid crystal it should have two minimum properties; first is anisometric molecular shape and second polarizability. Even any drug molecule can also behave like a liquid crystal if it has anisometric shape. A hydrophilic and hydrophobic drug molecule has been found sustained release with Hexagonal and cubic mesophases due to their super properties. This chapter is aimed for different and simplest methods for preparation of LLCs and their application in drug delivery. In inclusion, possible problem and upcoming research for industry purpose has also been discussed in this chapter. Various factor affecting the drug delivery by LCNPs has also been discussed.
