Liposomes and Psychedelics: Mentally Healthy Match

Noam Kirshenbaum, Analytical R&D , Nextar Chempharma, Nes Ziona, Israel (noamk@nextar.co.il)

Plant based psychedelics have been used in indigenous medicine from the onset of our recorded history to treat various neurological, mental and cognitive maladies. Currently, legislation, safety and efficacy concerns and predominantly social stigma obstruct the registration of plant based psychedelic drugs.

Liposomes are promising drug delivery nano vesicles, composed of a lipid bilayer or membrane enclosing an internal aqueous core. Liposomes offer many advantages over classical small- molecule formulations, such as reduced toxicity, site-specific targeting and altering pharmacokinetic properties of a drug. Liposomal psychedelic drug formulations can therefore reduce systemic toxicity, promote bioavailability and efficacy with improved safety profile. Although most psychedelic compounds enter the brain readily, special consideration is needed to facilitate the controlled and targeted introduction of such compounds into the brain.

Here we present our novel brain targeting liposomes technology, carrying psychedelic payloads, highlighting the analytical challenges en route to registering the first targeted liposomal psychedelic drug product.