Vesicular Drug Delivery Systems Research Articles

Nanoethosomal transdermal delivery of vardenafil for treatment of erectile dysfunction: optimization, characterization, and in vivo evaluation.

Vesicular drug delivery systems have recently gained attention as a way of improving dosing accuracy for drugs with poor transdermal permeation. The current study focuses on utilization of the natural biocompatible vesicles to formulate vardenafil nanoethosomes (VRD-NE), for the enhancement of their transdermal permeation and bioavailability. Fifteen formulations were prepared by thin-layer evaporation technique according to Box–Behnken design to optimize formulation variables. The effects of lipid composition, sonication time, and ethanol concentration on particle size and encapsulation efficiency were studied. The diffusion of vardenafil (VRD) from the prepared nanoethosomes specified by the design was carried out using automated Franz diffusion cell apparatus. The optimized formula was investigated for in vivo pharmacokinetic parameters compared with oral VRD suspension. Confocal laser scanning microscopy images were used to confirm enhanced diffusion release of VRD in rat skin. The results showed that the optimized formula produced nanoethosomes with an average size of 128 nm and an entrapment efficiency of 76.23%. VRD-NE provided a significant improvement in permeation with an enhancement ratio of 3.05-fold for a film made with optimally formulated VRD-NE compared with a film made with VRD powder. The transdermal bioavailability of VRD from the nanoethosome film was approximately twofold higher than the oral bioavailability from an aqueous suspension. VRD-NE thus provide a promising transdermal drug delivery system. As a result, management of impotence for a longer duration could be achieved with a reduced dosage rate that improves patient tolerability and compliance for the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

Nanovesicles Based on Mixtures of a Biantennary Glycolipid with Ionic Co‐Surfactants

AbstractA biantennary surfactant based on a synthetic C16‐maltoside was chosen to prepare vesicles for a potential vesicular drug delivery system. The synthesis comprised of three stages: Initial synthesis of β‐d‐maltose octaacetate was followed by glycosidation of 2‐hexyl‐decanol and final glycolipid deacetylation. Both α‐ and β‐anomers were prepared and their anomeric purity was evaluated by 1H NMR. Owing to the low water solubility of the glycolipid, addition of ionic co‐surfactants was believed to promote the surfactant distribution, thus leading to smaller and more uniform vesicles. The assembly behavior of the surfactant systems was studied by contact penetration under an optical polarizing microscope, while interfacial properties were determined by surface tension measurements. Vesicles were prepared by injection of an ethanolic solution into bulk water and investigated by dynamic light scattering and field emission scanning electron microscopy. Contact of the surfactant mixtures with water indicated a high tendency to exhibit the lamellar phase and confirmed the expected low molecular solubility. These findings suggest a potential of the surfactant to form stable vesicles. Injection of an ethanolic surfactant solution into bulk water gave sub‐micrometer sized vesicles with a narrow size distribution. Application of ionic co‐surfactants reduced the vesicle size. In particular ∼20 % of anionic SDS proved highly effective, lowering the vesicle size by nearly one decade, thus accessing nano‐sized vesicles. Encapsulation of a water‐soluble drug was achieved in a 76 ± 10 % efficiency.

A Precise Review on Proniosomes: A Novel Approach to Vesicular Drug Delivery System

A Precise Review on Proniosomes: A Novel Approach to Vesicular Drug Delivery System

Provesicles as Novel Drug Delivery Systems

Vesicular systems exhibit many attractive properties such as controlled drug release, ability to carry both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs, targetability and good biocompatibility. With these unique properties they can provide improved drug bioavailability and reduced side effects. Until now, many vesicular formulations have been studied in clinical and preclinical stages. Nevertheless, the major concern about these systems is their low physicochemical stability and high manufacturing expenses. The stability problems (fusion, aggregation, sedimentation, swelling, and drug leakage during storage) associated with the aqueous nature of vesicular systems hinders their effective usage. The advances on improving the stability of vesicular systems led to the emergence of provesicular systems, which are commonly described as dry, free flowing preformulations of vesicular drug delivery systems. Provesicles form vesicular systems upon hydratation with water and exhibit the advantages of vesicular systems with improved stability. The present article briefly reviews vesicular systems (particularly liposomes and niosomes) and enlightens about the innovations in the field. Overall investigations are reviewed and the provesicle approach is explained by giving detailed information on the composition, preparation, administration and characterization methods of provesicular systems (proliposomes and proniosomes). The scope of this article is expected to give insight to the researchers and industrialists to perform further research in this area.

Size Dependent Variations of Phospholipid Based Vesicular Drug Carriers in Systemic Drug Activity

Lipid based vesicular drug delivery system, one of the emerging technologies designed for addressing the delivery challenges of conventional drug delivery methods, has widespread applications in chemotherapeutics, immunotherapeutics, recombinant DNA technology, membrane biology and also as a diagnostic tool in different biological field. The enclosed phospholipid bilayer spherical structure, typically known as liposome, is a versatile vesicular delivery system to carry hydrophilic/hydrophobic drug generally efficiently to the site of action leading to reduced non-specific toxicity and improved bioavailability of the therapeutic moiety. Efficacy of drug encapsulated in liposome depends mainly on the circulation amount of liposome and its residence time, in vivo drug release, drug accumulation in the target site and uptake of the formulation in the reticuloendothelial system. Liposomal formulation factors that dictate those actions are liposomal size (hydrodynamic diameter), surface charge, lipid composition and steric stabilization. Variation in liposomal size shows around 100 fold alterations in pharmacokinetic parameters and systemic activity while the other factors such as surface charge, lipid composition and steric stabilization bring only about 10 fold changes in those properties. The findings indicate the critical role of vesicular size in liposomal efficacy. In the present review the effect of size-variation of liposome on systemic activity of drug as well as its pharmacokinetic profile will be discussed to understand the rational designing of liposomal preparation to maximize therapeutic activity of a drug at desired magnitude and to provide a wide range of product applications such as immunological vaccines, chemotherapy, antimicrobial therapy etc.

English

Nanotechnology has offered enormous improvement in field of therapeutics by means of designing of nano-carriers that can cross biological barriers and are able to target cellular reservoirs. The aim of the present investigation was to formulate and evaluate Niosomes, a synthetic microscopic non-ionic surfactant vesicles formed on the admixture of a non-ionic surfactant, cholesterol and phosphate with subsequent hydration in aqueous media. The delivery of drugs by “vesicular drug delivery system” such as niosomes provides several important advantages over conventional drug therapy. Ofloxacin was selected as a suitable drug for the present study because it is a potent secondgeneration fluoroquinolone active against a broad range of gram positive and gram-negative aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. In the present investigation three formulations of Niosomal drug delivery system of ofloxacin with non ionic surfactant, span 60, in various proportions were prepared and evaluated for Morphological characterization, Encapsulation efficiency, In-vitro drug release study. The Ofloxacin niosomes were prepared by lipid film hydration method. The prepared ofloxacin niosomes showed a vesicle size of 100-300 nm, the entrapment efficiency was 78.4%. The partition coefficient value of ofloxacin was found to be 0.5.

Lipid Based Vesicular Drug Delivery Systems

Vesicular drug delivery system can be defined as highly ordered assemblies consisting of one or more concentric bilayers formed as a result of self-assembling of amphiphilic building blocks in presence of water. Vesicular drug delivery systems are particularly important for targeted delivery of drugs because of their ability to localize the activity of drug at the site or organ of action thereby lowering its concentration at the other sites in body. Vesicular drug delivery system sustains drug action at a predetermined rate, relatively constant (zero order kinetics), efficient drug level in the body, and simultaneously minimizes the undesirable side effects. It can also localize drug action in the diseased tissue or organ by targeted drug delivery using carriers or chemical derivatization. Different types of pharmaceutical carriers such as polymeric micelles, particulate systems, and macro- and micromolecules are presented in the form of novel drug delivery system for targeted delivery of drugs. Particulate type carrier also known as colloidal carrier system, includes lipid particles, micro- and nanoparticles, micro- and nanospheres, polymeric micelles and vesicular systems like liposomes, sphingosomes, niosomes, transfersomes, aquasomes, ufasomes, and so forth.

Current Nanotechnological Strategies for Effective Delivery of Bioactive Drug Molecules in the Treatment of Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) has gone from being a forgotten disease to a modern and recrudescent pathology from past decades. Some clinical problems and challenges associated with conventional TB chemotherapy include poor patient compliance, longer duration of chemotherapy, lesser cell permeability, primary drug resistance, difficulty in maintaining higher drug concentrations at the infected site, and degradation of the drug before reaching the target site. Thus, newer drug delivery approaches involving micrometric or nanometric carriers are needed. These delivery systems should provide advantages over conventional systems by producing optimum effectiveness to the target site, enhanced therapeutic efficacy, uniform distribution of the drug throughout the target site, increased bioavailability and sustainability of the drug, fewer side effects, and increased patient compliance. This article reviews recent updates and fabrication of drug delivery approaches for tuberculosis chemotherapy involving vesicular drug delivery systems (liposomes, niosomes, solid lipid nanoparticles), particulate drug delivery systems (nanoparticles, microparticles, dendrimers), supramolecular drug delivery systems (polymeric micelles), specialized drug delivery systems (nanosuspensions, nanoemulsions, microemulsions, dry powders), complex conjugate drug delivery systems (ISCOMs, cyclodextrin inclusion complexes), and other carrier-based drug delivery systems in order to improve patient outcomes.

EMULSOMES: AN EMERGING VESICULAR DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM

The oral route is the easiest, cost effective, and most vital method for drug administration. Therefore, improvement of dosage forms, mainly for the prolonged release purpose has been a challenge for scientists. Vesicular drug delivery systems are developed with a purpose to overcome problems coupled with the drugs such a poor bioavailability, protection from harsh gastric environment, and from gastric enzymes, which degrade the drug. Vesicular drug delivery systems such as liposomes, emulsions, niosomes, proniosomes, solid lipid-nano particles, ethosomes, nanoparticles, and pharmacosomes, etc have gained much attention, but emulsomes have rouse as system, which bypasses many disadvantages associated with other systems, developed as novel lipoidal vesicular system with internal solid fat core surrounded by phospholipid bilayer. This technology is designed to act as vehicle for poorly soluble drugs. The drug is enclosed in the emulsomes and provide prolong existence of drug in systemic circulation. Furthermore, emulsomal-based formulations of genetic drugs such as antisense oligonucleotides and plasmids for gene therapy that have clear potential for systemic utility are increasingly available. This review addresses the concept of emulsomal drug delivery system, summarizes the success of emulsomes for the delivery of small molecules, and special attention has been paid to its formulation design, advantages, biopharmaceutical aspects, stability aspects, and various aspects related to drug delivery including future aspects. Keywords: Controlled oral drug delivery, emulsomes, oral bioavailability, vesicular drug delivery

Pharmacosomes: An Emerging Novel Vesicular Drug Delivery System for Poorly Soluble Synthetic and Herbal Drugs

In the arena of solubility enhancement, several problems are encountered. A novel approach based on lipid drug delivery system has evolved, pharmacosomes. Pharmacosomes are colloidal, nanometric size micelles, vesicles or may be in the form of hexagonal assembly of colloidal drug dispersions attached covalently to the phospholipid. They act as befitting carrier for delivery of drugs quite precisely owing to their unique properties like small size, amphiphilicity, active drug loading, high entrapment efficiency, and stability. They help in controlled release of drug at the site of action as well as in reduction in cost of therapy, drug leakage and toxicity, increased bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs, and restorative effects. There has been advancement in the scope of this delivery system for a number of drugs used for inflammation, heart diseases, cancer, and protein delivery along with a large number of herbal drugs. Hence, pharmacosomes open new challenges and opportunities for improved novel vesicular drug delivery system.

FORMULATION, CHARACTERIZATION, STABILITY, INVITRO EVALUATION AND OPTIMIZATION OF DIACEREIN NIOSOMES

Niosomes or non-ionic surfactants vesicles are microscopic lamellar structures formed on the admixture of a non-ionic surfactant, cholesterol and stearylamine with subsequent hydration in aqueous media. The delivery of drugs by “vesicular drug delivery system” such as niosomes provides several important advantages over conventional drug therapy. Diacerein is an Interleukin-1 inhibitor and it is highly effective in relieving the symptoms of osteoarthritis. Diacerein, in contrast to NSAIDs, are potent inhibitor of IL-1 beta induced nitric oxide production by chondrocytes and cartilage, without reducing prostaglandin E2 production. The main objective of this study was to design suitable niosome-encapsulated drug delivery for anti-inflammatory drugs like Diacerein and evaluate the vesicle size, entrapment efficiency, in vitro release and physical stability of the system. Non-ionic surfactants used were Tween (40&60), cholesterol and stearylamine in molar ratio 1:1:0.1. The niosomes were prepared by thin film hydration method. The higher entrapment efficiency was observed with niosome (F11) prepared from tween 60, cholesterol and 2.5 min sonication. The release pattern shown by these formulations were first order & Higuchi diffusion controlled mechanism. The physical stability study show that niosomal preparation stored at refrigerated temperature for 60 days show maximum drug retained compare to room temperature and elevated temperature conditions. Finding of all this investigation conclusively demonstrate prolongation of drug release at a constant and controlled rate after niosomal encapsulation of Diacerein.

PRONIOSOMAL GEL OF FLURBIPROFEN: FORMULATION AND EVALUATION

The purpose of this research is to design proniosomal gel drug delivery system of flurbiprofen in a trial to overcome the adverse effects associated with oral administration of the drug. This can be overcome by the use of vesicular drug delivery system. Encapsulation of a drug in vesicular structure can be predicted to prolong the existence of the drug in the systemic circulation and thus enhance penetration into target tissue and reduce toxicity. Proniosomal gels are generally present in transparent, translucent or white semisolid gel texture. Due to the limited solvent system present, the proniosomes formed were the mixture of many phases of liquid crystal, viz. lamellar, hexagonal and cubic phase liquid crystals. The potential of proniosomes as a transdermal drug delivery system for flurbiprofen was investigated by encapsulating the drug in various formulations of proniosomal gel composed of various ratios of sorbitan fatty acid esters, cholesterol, prepared by coacervation-phase separation method. The formulated systems were characterized in vitro for size, vesicle count, drug entrapment, drug release profiles and vesicular stability at different storage conditions. Stability studies for proniosomal gel were carried out for 4 weeks. The method of proniosome loading resulted in an encapsulation yield of 30.6 – 75.4%. Proniosomes were characterised by transmission electron microscopy. In vitro studies showed prolonged release of entrapped flurbiprofen. At refrigerated conditions, higher drug retention was observed. It is evident from this study that proniosomes are a promising prolonged delivery system for captopril and have reasonably good stability characteristics.

Emulsomes: An emerging vesicular drug delivery system

The oral route is the easiest, cost effective, and most vital method for drug administration. Therefore, improvement of dosage forms mainly for the prolonged release purpose has been a challenge for scientists. Vesicular drug delivery systems are developed with a purpose to overcome problems coupled with the drugs such a poor bioavailability, protection from harsh gastric environment, and from gastric enzymes, which degrade the drug.Vesicular drug delivery systems such as liposomes, emulsions, niosomes, proniosomes, solid lipid-nano particles, ethosomes, nanoparticles, and pharmacosomes, etc have gained much attention, but emulsomes have rouse as system, which bypasses many disadvantages associated with other systems, developed as novel lipoidal vesicular system with internal solid fat core surrounded by phospholipid bilayer. This technology is designed to act as vehicle for poorly soluble drugs.The drug is enclosed in the emulsomes and provide prolong existence of drug in systemic circulation. Furthermore, emulsomal-based formulations of genetic drugs such as antisense oligonucleotides and plasmids for gene therapy that have clear potential for systemic utility are increasingly available. This review addresses the concept of emulsomal drug delivery system, summarizes the success of emulsomes for the delivery of small molecules, and special attention has been paid to its formulation design, advantages, biopharmaceutical aspects, stability aspects, and various aspects related to drug delivery including future aspects.

Liposomes a Vesicular Nanocarrier: Potential Advancements in Cancer Chemotherapy

The indispensable obligation behind the successful therapy of a disease is to deliver the effective drug/bioactive concentration with sustained release manner at the diseased organs without any exposure to the healthy tissues. Novel drug-delivery systems increase the concentration and persistence of drug at the vicinity of the target site and thereby minimize the undesired side effects of the drug to the normal tissues of body. With advances in nanotechnology, several new drug delivery approaches have become available that may fulfil the requirement of safe and effective drug therapy. Among these techniques, vesicular drug-delivery systems, particularly liposomes, are under rigorous research for their applicability to deliver FDA-approved and newer drugs. Liposomes have been widely investigated as one of the most widely used nanocarriers in cancer therapy and have shown their potential in spatial and temporal release of bioactive agents for the effective treatment of various life-threatening diseases, including cancer. Various targeted and triggered-release approaches of bioactive substances using liposomes further improve the applicability of liposomes in cancer therapeutics. Thus, keeping these points in view, the present review has been focussed on application of liposomes for development of liposome technology and its novel applications for effective cancer therapy.

Emulsomes: An emerging vesicular drug delivery system

Emulsomes: An emerging vesicular drug delivery system

Novel vesicular and particulate drug delivery systems for topical treatment of acne

Background: The efficacy of the antiacne topical drugs is well established. The local side effects, however, mainly cutaneous irritation, erythema, dryness, peeling and scaling, remain major problems. Novel vesicular and particulate drug delivery systems have been proposed to reduce the side effects of drugs commonly used in the topical treatment of acne. Objective: This review focuses on the development and evaluation of antiacne drug-loaded vesicular and particulate delivery systems (liposomes, polymeric microspheres and solid lipid nanoparticles) for topical treatment, their advantages and challenges. Methods: All the literature available was reviewed to highlight the potential of these novel systems for the topical treatment of acne. Conclusion: The encapsulation of antiacne drugs in vesicular and particulate delivery systems represents an innovative alternative to minimize side effects, while preserving their efficacy. This can be obtained by the capacity of these systems to provide controlled release or to improve the drug penetration into skin or even into the pilosebaceous unit.

Thrombus Localization by Using Streptokinase Containing Vesicular Systems

Our research focused on the preparation of vesicular drug delivery systems, such as liposomes, noisomes, and sphingosomes, for achieving slow release of entrapped proteins in the circulation to increase half-life, to mask immunogenic properties, and to protect against loss of enzymatic activity. We prepared, characterized, and monitored the biodistribution of three types of vesicular systems (liposomes, niosomes, and sphingosomes) containing streptokinase. For biodistribution stuides, radiolabelled streptokinase dispersions were injected into the ear vein of female rabbits in the weight of 2.5–3 kg weight. Following the application, rabbits were sacrificed, then organs of these animals were removed and radioactivity of organs was measured by well-type gamma counter. The comparison of the biodistribution results of the free streptokinase with the streptokinase vesicles showed that incorporation of the enzyme into the vesicles changed the biodistribution of the drug and by the entrapment of the streptokinase in the vesicles, thrombus uptake and imaging quality were improved.

Vesicular systems: An overview

There has been keen interest in the development of a novel drug delivery system. Novel drug delivery system aims to deliver the drug at a rate directed by the needs of the body during the period of treatment, and channel the active entity to the site of action. At present, no available drug delivery system behaves ideally achieving all the lofty goals, but sincere attempts have been made to achieve them through novel approaches in drug delivery. A number of novel drug delivery systems have emerged encompassing various routes of administration, to achieve controlled and targeted drug delivery. Encapsulation of the drug in vesicular structures is one such system, which can be predicted to prolong the existence of the drug in systemic circulation, and reduce the toxicity, if selective uptake can be achieved. Consequently a number of vesicular drug delivery systems such as liposomes, niosomes, transfersomes, and pharmacosomes were developed. Advances have since been made in the area of vesicular drug delivery, leading to the development of systems that allow drug targeting, and the sustained or controlled release of conventional medicines. The focus of this review is to bring out the application, advantages, and drawbacks of vesicular systems.