Ethosomes as Vesicles for Effective Transdermal Delivery: From Bench to Clinical Implementation

Background: Drug delivery across the deeper layers of skin to make it systemically available is a considerable challenge in the development of a carrier. Numerous efforts have been put forward to find ways to overcome the formidable barrier of stratum corneum. Various lipid based vesicles viz liposomes, transfersomes, and invasomes have gained prominent deliberations across the globe. More recently, ethosomes have been investigated for their potential for transdermal delivery of several drugs. Objective: In the present review an attempt has been made to illustrate preclinical and clinical studies depicting enhanced safety and efficacy of drugs delivered via ethosomes. Further, patents on transdermal delivery have been highlighted specifying the effectiveness of ethosomes in the transport of therapeutic actives. Methods: Through the search engine "Scopus" literature on therapeutic categories such as antimicrobials, anti-inflammatory, and drugs acting on CNS has been collected. Results: Preclinical and clinical studies that have been carried out by various researchers affirm the potentiality of ethosomes for delivering wide variety of drugs belonging to different therapeutic categories. In vitro and in vivo permeability analyses delineated the enhancement of permeability. Consequently, enhanced transdermal flux was reported and in vivo confocal laser scanning microscopy depicted the quantity as well as depth of penetrability via ethosomes. Conclusion: From various research reports, it can be concluded that ethosomes are the competent and efficient vesicles to provide better drug transport via transdermal route.