Abstract

CUBOSOMES: PROMISING PLATFORMS FOR DRUG DELIVERY AND BEYOND

Meghana Borra* and Dr. K. V. Ratnamala

ABSTRACT

Cubosomes are non-lamellar lipid structures with liquid crystalline layers. They have a structure like a "honeycomb" with bi-continuous domains of lipid and water, where surfactant assembles into bilayers and is twisted into a three- dimensional periodic surface, generating a densely packed structure. They have a distinct advantage over lamellar liposomes in that they have a large surface area that involves many internal segments, allowing for the effective trapping and continuous release of therapeutically active compounds also permit to incorporate highly lipophilic, hydrophilic, and amphiphilic drugs. This review article includes Introduction of cubosomes and few preparation techniques and their characterization and Evalution techniques, including as Particle Size Distribution (PSD), Small- Angle X-Ray Scattering, and Cryo-Transmission Electron Microscopy (Cryo-TEM), Entrapment efficiency, stability studies etc. along with few applications in pharmaceutical drug delivery using a cubosome as a vehicle.

Keywords: Cubosomes, Liquid crystalline layers, Liposomes, Cryo-Transmission Electron Microscopy.