Table 1.

Structural Classification of Liposomes Based on Size and Number of Lamellae.

Lamellarity	Abbreviation	Number of Lipid Bilayers	Diameter Size Rang Structures
(1) Unilamellar Vesicles	ULV	one lipid bilayer	All size range
Dimensions
Name	Abbreviation	Size Range (µm)	Characteristics
Single Unilamellar Vesicles	SUV	0.02–0.20	useful for entrapping lipophilic active materials
Medium Unilamellar Vesicles	MUV	0.20–0.50	slightly more efficient than SUV
Large Unilamellar Vesicles	LUV	0.50–10	capable of capturing a significant amount of hydrophilic material
Giant Unilamellar Vesicles	GUV	100–200	look like cell membranes, ideal templates for microscale bioreactors
(2) Oligolamellar Vesicles	OLV	few concentric lipid bilayers	100–500 nm
(3) Multilamellar Vesicles	MLV	many concentric lipid bilayers	>500 nm
(4) Multivesicular Vesicles	MVV	non-concentric vesicles within a single lipid bilayer	>1000 nm