TRANSDERMAL DELIVERY OF DRUGS USING TRANSFEROSOMES: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW

Abstract

Transdermal delivery systems have gained popularity as a non-invasive method of drug administration that offers several
advantages over other routes of drug delivery. They are noninvasive and self-administered delivery system which
improves patient compliance and provide a controlled release of the drug. The greatest challenge of transdermal delivery
systems is that in which the outermost layer of skin acts as a barrier function for transfer of therapeutic agent into the
body. Molecules with high molecular weights do not pass through the skin. Therefore, only a limited number of drugs
are administered by this route. So encapsulating the drugs in transfersomes is one of the best approaches to overcome this
problem. Transferosomes are lipid based vesicular drug delivery systems which have a unique composition that allows
them to overcome the limitation of conventional drug delivery system. They are composed of phospholipids and
surfactants, which provide them with the ability to encapsulate both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs. They penetrate
through stratum corneum by either intracellular route or the transcellular route by the generation of natural osmotic
gradient. Compared to conventional drug delivery systems, transferosomes offer several advantages like avoidance of first
pass metabolism, increasing bioavailability of drugs. Due to its high deformability it enhances the penetration of intact
vesicles. Transferosomes vary from other conventional vesicles due to their softer, better adjustable and ultra deformable
artificial membranes. This review summarizes the concept of transfersomes, including their structure, formation
mechanism of action, different methods of preparation, advantages, limitations along with applications.