NIOSOMES: A NOVEL DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM

Drug-delivery systems designed for specific targets allow drugs to be precisely delivered to areas affected by diseases. Various carriers are used to deliver drugs, including immunoglobulins, serum proteins, synthetic polymers, liposomes, niosomes and microspheres. In the last decade, there has been a considerable amount of interest directed towards the advancement of surfactant-based vesicles (known as Niosomes) for the purpose of improving drug delivery. Niosomes are self-assembled vesicular nanocarriers that are produced when cholesterol, non-ionic surfactant, or other amphiphilic compounds are hydrated & having a range of applications, including brain-targeted delivery and cutaneous delivery. Similarly to liposomes, niosomes can carry lipophilic and hydrophilic cargoes due to their bilayer structure. A vast number of research articles have been published on their manufacturing methods and applications in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Furthermore, niosomes may be created using simple procedures, need lower production costs, and are viable for extended periods of time, thus eliminating the fundamental limitations of liposomes. This review provides an overview of the present status of niosomal research, including the development of niosomes, various types of niosomes, the physical analysis of niosomes, and current usage in the pharmaceutical industry.