Patent ID: 7179484

Claim:
A method of preparing protein-stabilized liposome nanoparticles containing at least one lipophilic pharmaceutical agent, the method comprising: (a) preparing an oil-in-water emulsion by a process comprising i) preparing an organic solution comprising one or more phospholipids; ii) mixing the at least one lipophilic pharmaceutical agent into said organic solution; iii) infusing said organic mixture into an aqueous solution comprising an emulsion-forming protein, wherein said emulsion-forming protein comprises from about 0.1% to about 20% (w/v) of the aqueous solution, to form a the oil-in-water emulsion; and (b) removing organic solvent from said emulsion to form the protein-stabilized liposome nanoparticles, wherein said liposome nanoparticles have sizes below 400 nm and said emulsion-forming protein adsorbed onto their surface.