Vesicular systems for delivering conventional small organic molecules and larger macromolecules to and through human skin

El Maghraby, G. M. and Williams, A. C. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3654-7916 (2009) Vesicular systems for delivering conventional small organic molecules and larger macromolecules to and through human skin. Expert Opinion on Drug Delivery, 6 (2). pp. 149-163. ISSN 1742-5247 doi: 10.1517/17425240802691059

Abstract/Summary

The history of using vesicular systems for drug delivery to and through skin started nearly three decades ago with a study utilizing phospholipid liposomes to improve skin deposition and reduce systemic effects of triamcinolone acetonide. Subsequently, many researchers evaluated liposomes with respect to skin delivery, with the majority of them recording localized effects and relatively few studies showing transdermal delivery effects. Shortly after this, Transfersomes were developed with claims about their ability to deliver their payload into and through the skin with efficiencies similar to subcutaneous administration. Since these vesicles are ultradeformable, they were thought to penetrate intact skin deep enough to reach the systemic circulation. Their mechanisms of action remain controversial with diverse processes being reported. Parallel to this development, other classes of vesicles were produced with ethanol being included into the vesicles to provide flexibility (as in ethosomes) and vesicles were constructed from surfactants and cholesterol (as in niosomes). Thee ultradeformable vesicles showed variable efficiency in delivering low molecular weight and macromolecular drugs. This article will critically evaluate vesicular systems for dermal and transdermal delivery of drugs considering both their efficacy and potential mechanisms of action.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/4457
Identification Number/DOI	10.1517/17425240802691059
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Life Sciences > School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy > School of Pharmacy > Pharmaceutics Research Group
Uncontrolled Keywords	ethosomes; liposomes; macromolecular drugs; niosomes; transdermal drug delivery; transferosomes
Publisher	Informa
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