Cubosomes: Innovative Nanostructures for Drug Delivery.

Area of Science:

• Nanotechnology
• Materials Science
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Amphiphilic lipids self-assemble into bicontinuous cubic liquid crystalline phases in aqueous media.
• Cubosomes, dispersions of inverted cubic phases, feature a lipid bilayer capable of incorporating diverse drug polarities.
• These biocompatible nanoparticles represent a promising advancement in drug delivery systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the scope and importance of cubosomes as effective drug delivery vehicles.
• To discuss cubosome preparation, drug loading/release, and characterization methods.
• To summarize current advances in cubosome applications for various medical and cosmetic uses.

Main Methods:

• Review of literature on cubosome preparation techniques.
• Analysis of drug loading and release kinetics from cubosomal dispersions.
• Examination of characterization methods for cubosomal formulations.
• Overview of diverse application areas including drug delivery, burn management, and theranostics.

Main Results:

• Cubosomal dispersions enhance drug bioavailability, particularly for poorly water-soluble drugs.
• They reduce adverse effects, improve intracellular penetration, and protect drugs from degradation.
• Sustained drug release and the inherent biodegradability of lipids are significant advantages.

Conclusions:

• Cubosomes are proposed as novel carriers for advanced drug delivery systems due to their desirable properties.
• Their capabilities in solubilizing, encapsulating, transporting, and protecting drugs make them attractive for in vivo applications.
• Cubosomes offer a versatile platform for various drug delivery routes and therapeutic interventions.