Absorption, disposition and pharmacokinetics of nanoemulsions

Nanoemulsions are composed of nanoscale droplets of one immiscible liquid dispersed within another, which have been the focus of extensive research worldwide due to their solubilization and transportation capacity of both hydrophobic and hydrophilic active compounds with unique physical properties. In a broad sense, submicron-emulsion, microemulsion, self-microemulsifing drug delivery system, lipid emulsion and cholesterol-rich microemulsion (LDE) all belong to nanoemulsions. The review starts with a brief introduction to the definition, formulation rationale, and types of nanoemulaions, and focused on, by different administration routes such as the oral, intravenous, transdermal, ocular nasal and rectal routes, the absorption, disposition, pharmacokinetics properties of nanoemulsions.