Micrometer-Sized Liposome-Based Systems: A Hierarchical Breakdown

Liposomes have attracted attention as a compartment for various synthetic biomolecular systems, including artificial cells and drug delivery carriers. Notably, micrometer-sized liposomes (MSLs) have emerged as a key platform for engineering de novo biomolecular systems, extending beyond their role as model compartments in scientific research. However, there is still a lack of reviews on MSLs from the perspective of artificial systems across various disciplines from basic sciences to applied sciences and to engineering. In this review, we aim to fill this gap by providing a hierarchical breakdown that offers a systematic overview of MSL design and experimental methods. Primarily targeted at readers new to the field, our review presents a unified description of MSL-based functional systems and guidance on experimental details such as lipid composition and preparation methods. Our approach seeks to present a consolidated perspective of functionalized liposomes as an artificial system, contributing to advancements across various disciplines.