Abstract

ETHOSOMES: A NOVEL APPROCH FOR TRANSDERMAL AND TOPICAL DRUG DELIVERY

Roohi Kesharwani* Dilip K Patel, Anupam Sachan, Vikas Kumar, Bhaskar Mazumdar

ABSTRACT

Skin acts as a major target as well as a principal barrier for topical/transdermal drug delivery. Despite the many advantages of this system, the major obstacle is the low diffusion rate of drugs across the stratum corneum. Several methods have been tried to increase the permeation rate of drugs temporarily. One simple and convenient approach is application of drugs in formulation with elastic vesicles or skin enhancers. Vesicular system is one of the most controversial methods for transdermal delivery of active substances in that ethosome are the ethanolic phospholipids vesicles which are used mainly for transdermal delivery of drugs. Ethosomes have higher penetration rate through skin due to its ethanolic content. In this article reviews various aspect of ethosomes including their mechanism of penetration, preparation, advantages, characterization, composition, preparation, application. These carriers open new challenges and opportunities for the development of novel improved therapies.

Keywords: Ethosomes, transdermal, vesicular carriers, ethanol, phospholipid.