A "nanolipogel" is a delivery vehicle including one or more lipid layer surrounding a hydrogel core, which may include an absorbent such as a cyclodextrin or ion-exchange resin. Nanolipogels can be constructed so as to incorporate a variety of different chemical entities that can subsequently be released in a controlled fashion. These different incorporated chemical entities can differ dramatically with respect to size and composition. Nanolipogels have been constructed to contain co-encapsulated proteins as well as small hydrophobic drugs within the interior of the lipid bilayer. Agents incorporated within nanolipogels can be released into the milieu in a controlled fashion, for example, nanolipogels provide a means of achieving simultaneous sustained release of agents that differ widely in chemical composition and molecular weight. Additionally, nanolipogels can favorably modulate biodistribution. 

Nanolipogels, methods of incorporation of agents into these delivery vehicles and making and using these compositions for the treatment of disease have been developed. These are designed to be loaded with agents either prior to, during or after formation and subsequently function as controlled-release vehicles for the agents. "Nanolipogel", is a nanoparticle that combines the advantages of both liposomes and polymer-based particles for sustained delivery of both proteins and small molecules. In a preferred embodiment, the nanolipogel is a Lipid-Enveloped Dendrimer (LED).

The nanolipogel is typically loaded with more than one agent such that controlled release of the multiplicity of agents is subsequently achieved. The nanolipogel is loaded with one or more first agents during formation and one or more second agents following formation by the process of rehydration of the nanolipogel in the presence of the second agents. For example, the nanolipogel is loaded with a molecule that serves as an adjuvant and the nanolipogel thereafter incorporates one or more target antigens after formation, for the controlled release of adjuvant together with the antigens. Alternatively, the nanolipogel loaded with adjuvant is inserted into the site of a tumor in a patient, the tumor is ablated, the nanolipogel is loaded with released tumor antigens and the nanolipogel releases the tumor antigens together with adjuvant into the body of the patient in a controlled manner.