Niosomal Drug Delivery Systems and Formulations
Summary
Niosomes are microscopic vesicular carriers formed by the self‐assembly of non‐ionic surfactants and cholesterol in aqueous environments. They encapsulate both hydrophilic and lipophilic therapeutics within their bilayered structure, offering enhanced chemical and physical stability compared with conventional liposomes. Fabrication techniques include thin‐film hydration, reverse‐phase evaporation and microfluidic methods, each affording control over particle size, lamellarity and surface charge. Surface functionalisation with polymers or ligands can impart targeted delivery, extended circulation time and stimulus‐responsive release. Applications span oncology, infectious diseases, central nervous system targeting and vaccine delivery, where niosomal formulations improve bioavailability, reduce systemic toxicity and enable controlled release profiles. Recent advances focus on hybrid systems, scalable production and integration with additive manufacturing to produce patient‐specific implants or gels. Collectively, niosomal platforms represent a versatile, cost‐effective strategy for addressing pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic challenges across diverse therapeutic areas.
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Niosomal Drug Delivery Systems and Formulations publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in niosomal drug delivery systems and formulations across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Niosome: A vesicular nanocarrier composed of non‐ionic surfactants and cholesterol forming bilayered structures for drug encapsulation.
Non‐ionic surfactant: Amphiphilic molecules lacking charged groups, used to self‐assemble into stable vesicles with reduced immunogenicity.
Entrapment efficiency: The proportion of drug successfully encapsulated within a carrier, expressed as a percentage of the initial payload.
Polydispersity index: A measure of particle size distribution uniformity within a colloidal system; lower values indicate greater homogeneity.
PEGylation: Surface modification of vesicles with polyethylene glycol chains to prolong systemic circulation and reduce opsonisation.
References
- Current advances in niosomes applications for drug delivery and cancer treatment. Materials Today Bio (2023).
- Use of niosomes for the treatment of intracellular pathogens infecting the lungs. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews Nanomedicine and Nanobiotechnology (2023).
- Doxorubicin-loaded Niosomes functionalized with gelatine and alginate as pH-responsive drug delivery system: A 3D printing approach. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules (2023).
- Advances of Non-Ionic Surfactant Vesicles (Niosomes) and Their Application in Drug Delivery. Pharmaceutics (2019).
- Niosomes, an alternative for liposomal delivery. PLOS ONE (2018).
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