Abstract

ETHOSOMAL GEL: AN ADVANCED APPROACH FOR ENHANCED TOPICAL DRUG DELIVERY AND SKIN PENETRATION

Sourav*, Dr. Shripathy D., Dhanush, Aradhana Pinto, Dr. Krishnananda Kamath K., Dr. A. R. Shabaraya

ABSTRACT

Transdermal drug delivery system (TDDS) is gaining popularity due to its advantages, which include avoidance of first-pass effect, increased patient compliance, and controlled drug release. Unfortunately, the stratum corneum is one of the barriers of penetration and absorption of several therapeutic agents. Moreover, the stratum corneum reduces the skin permeation of hydrophilic drugs and with high molecular weight. To address this issue, several vesicular carriers, including ethosomes, have been investigated. Ethosomes are phospholipid vesicles contain a large percentage of ethanol. Ethanol facilitates drug passage through the skin by increasing the fluidity of both the vesicular lipid bilayer and the intercellular lipids in the stratum corneum. Thus, the simultaneous presence of ethanol and phospholipids leads to enhanced penetration into the skin, resulting in improved bioavailability and efficacy. Additionally, ethosome gels prolong the contact of drugs with the skin surface. These gels possess advantages such as convenient application, sustained drug release, and good stability. The present study considered different parameters affecting ethosome preparation, entrapment efficiency, and skin absorption, as well as evaluation techniques for these characteristics. Ethosomal gel systems represents a novel advancement in dermal drug delivery. They represent a novel method for solving problems related to the skin barrier and can be used to deliver numerous drugs.

Keywords: Ethosomes, Transdermal drug delivery, Skin permeation, Phospholipids, Controlled release, Topical delivery.