Transferosomes as a transdermal drug delivery system: Dermal kinetics and recent developments

Area of Science:

• Nanotechnology and Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Biomaterials and Drug Delivery Systems

Background:

• Transdermal drug delivery faces challenges due to the stratum corneum's barrier properties, limiting the delivery of many therapeutics.
• Traditional transdermal therapies are often restricted to small, lipophilic molecules.
• Innovative drug delivery systems are crucial for expanding the scope of transdermal therapeutics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore transferosomes as an advanced system for overcoming transdermal delivery limitations.
• To review the history, properties, and applications of transferosomes in drug delivery.
• To highlight the potential of transferosomes in delivering a wide range of therapeutic agents.

Main Methods:

• Review of literature on transferosome development and application.
• Analysis of transferosome physical-chemical properties influencing skin permeation.
• Examination of dermal kinetics and stability advantages of transferosomes.

Main Results:

• Transferosomes effectively deliver hydrophilic actives, large molecules, peptides, proteins, and nucleic acids across the skin.
• Their flexible structure and surface hydrophilicity facilitate transport via hydration gradients.
• Enhanced permeation, controlled release, and improved stability against degradation are key benefits.

Conclusions:

• Transferosomes represent a significant advancement in transdermal drug delivery, overcoming previous limitations.
• Their unique properties enable the delivery of diverse therapeutic molecules, expanding treatment possibilities.
• Recent advances show transferosomes are progressing towards marketed dosage forms, indicating their therapeutic value.