European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

ADVANCES IN NIOSOMAL-BASED DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS: DESIGN, APPLICATIONS, AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES

Km. Ekta, Swatantra Kumar Singh Kushawaha, Mitali Singh*

ABSTRACT

Niosomes, which are vesicular systems made up of non-ionic surfactants and cholesterol, have garnered considerable interest as vehicles for targeted and controlled drug delivery. The versatility of niosomes is particularly appreciated for their capacity to encapsulate both hydrophilic and hydrophobic medications. This review emphasizes their design, methods of preparation, benefits, drawbacks, and future possibilities. Depending on the preparation technique used—such as thin-film hydration, ether injection, ultrasonication, reverse phase evaporation, or microfluidization—niosomes can form either unilamellar or multilamellar vesicles. The components used in the formulation, especially the type of surfactant, cholesterol, and charged substances, significantly influence their stability, efficiency of encapsulation, and drug release patterns. In comparison to traditional systems and even liposomes, niosomes provide improved stability, biocompatibility, low toxicity, cost-effectiveness, and better bioavailability, which enhances patient adherence. Nonetheless, some challenges persist, such as limited shelf stability, drug leakage, and the requirement for specialized equipment and complex processing techniques. Characterizing their physicochemical properties—like particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, and encapsulation efficiency—is crucial for forecasting their biological performance. In summary, niosomes offer a versatile and promising strategy for the advancement of drug delivery technologies.

Keywords: Niosomes, Vesicular systems, Targeted drug delivery, Controlled drug delivery, Enhanced bioavailability.