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Updated: Oct 2, 2025

Models and Methods to Evaluate Transport of Drug Delivery Systems Across Cellular Barriers
Published on: October 17, 2013
Review on Different Vesicular Drug Delivery Systems (VDDSs) and Their Applications
Asma M Alenzi1, Sana A Albalawi1, Shatha G Alghamdi1
1Pharm D Program, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Background:
Colloidal dispersions, also known as vesicular drug delivery systems (VDDSs), are highly ordered assemblies composed of one or more concentric bilayers formed by the self-assembly of amphiphilic building blocks in the presence of water.
Objective:
VDDSs are important to target the entrapped drugs at specific sites inside the body, control the drug release, enhance the drug bioavailability, and reduce undesired side effects.
Methods:
There are different types of VDDSs suitable for the entrapment of both hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs. According to the patent composition, VDDSs are classified into lipid-based and nonlipid- based VDDSs.
Results:
There are different types of VDDSs which include liposomes, ethosomes, transferosomes, ufasomes, colloidosomes, cubosomes, niosomes, bilosomes, aquasomes, etc. Conclusion: This review article aims to address the different types of VDDSs, their advantages and disadvantages, and their therapeutic applications.
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