ABSTRACT Lipid‐based nanoparticles are critical subjects of study in biotechnology. However, inconsistency in the use of similar terms blurs important biophysical distinctions and confuses newcomers to the field. Here, three terms, namely, “liposome,” “vesicle,” and “lipid nanoparticle,” (LNP) are clarified. Vesicles, including liposomes, consist of a membrane boundary that self‐assembles around an aqueous core due to the hydrophobic effect. LNPs are densely packed structures brought together by electrostatic complexation in addition to the hydrophobic effect, which lack an aqueous core. “Lipid‐based nanoparticles” is a general term that can describe both types of structures. Clarity in terminology is likely to benefit students in the field.
Irene A. Chen (Mon,) studied this question.