Abstract

NANOCOCHLEATES: EMERGING BIOMIMETIC NANOCARRIERS FOR ADVANCED DRUG DELIVERY

Shubham Santosh Shinganapure*, Swati Rawat, Pravin Wakte and Sachin Bhusare

ABSTRACT

Nanocochleates represent an innovative class of drug delivery systems with significant potential for enhancing the efficacy and bioavailability of various therapeutic agents. These unique nanostructures are composed of phospholipid bilayers rolled into spiral configurations, resembling cigar-like cylinders at the nanoscale. The distinct architecture of nanocochleates offers several advantages over conventional drug carriers, including improved stability, increased drug loading capacity, and enhanced protection of encapsulated compounds from degradation. This abstract explores the fundamental characteristics of nanocochleates, their formation mechanisms, and their applications in drug delivery. The phospholipid composition, primarily consisting of phosphatidylserine and divalent cations, plays a crucial role in determining the structural integrity and functional properties of nanocochleates. The review discusses various preparationmethods, such as trapping, hydrogel isolation, and emulsion techniques, highlighting their impact on nanocochleate size, uniformity, and encapsulation efficiency. The versatility of nanocochleates in accommodating diverse therapeutic agents, including small molecules, peptides, proteins, and nucleic acids, is examined. Their ability to facilitate oral delivery of traditionally challenging compounds, such as hydrophobic drugs and large biomolecules, is of particular interest. The abstract also addresses the mechanisms of cellular uptake and intracellular drug release, emphasizing the role of nanocochleates in overcoming biological barriers and improving therapeutic outcomes. Finally, the review outlines current challenges in nanocochleate development, including scale-up issues and regulatory considerations, while presenting future prospects for this promising drug delivery platform in personalized medicine and targeted therapies.

Keywords: Lipid-based nanocarriers, cochleate cylinders, Phosphatidylserine, Calcium-induced fusion, Bioavailability enhancement, Targeted drug delivery.