Niosomes and Liposomes - Vesicular Approach Towards Transdermal Drug Delivery

Drug targeting is the ability to direct a therapeutic agent specifically to desired site of action with little or no interaction with nontarget tissue. Novel drug delivery system aims to deliver the drug at a rate directed by the needs of the body during the period of treatment, and channel the active entity to the site of action. Niosomes are one of the best carriers for drug targeting. Niosomes are self assembled vesicles composed primarily of synthetic surfactants and cholesterol. They are analogous in structure to the more widely studied liposomes formed from biologically derived phospholipids. Niosomes are biodegradable, relatively nontoxic, more stable and inexpensive, an alternative to liposomes. On the other hand liposomes are vesicular structures consisting of hydrated bilalyers which form spontaneously when phospholipids are dispersed in water. They are simple microscopic vesicles in which an aqueous volume is entirely enclosed by a membrane composed of lipid bilayers. The focus of this review is to bring out the application, advantages, and drawbacks of vesicular systems i.e. niosomes and liposomes.