ETHOSOME: A NEW TECHNOLOGY USED AS TOPICAL & TRANSDERMAL DELIVERY SYSTEM

Transdermal drug delivery system was first introduced more than 20 years ago. Transdermal drug delivery system is a type of convenient drug delivery system where drug goes to the systemic circulation through the protective barrier i.e. Skin is the main target of topical and transdermal preparations. Major aim of transdermal drug delivery system is to cross the stratum corneum. Various methods have been tried to increase the permeation rate of drugs temporarily. Vesicular system is one of the most controversial methods for transdermal delivery of active substances in that ethosome are the ethanolic phospholipids vesicles which are used mainly for transdermal delivery of drugs. Ethosomes are soft, malleable vesicles tailored for enhanced delivery of active agents. Ethosomes have higher penetration rate through the skin. The increased permeation of ethosomes is probably due to its ethanolic content. Ethanol increases the cell membrane lipid fluidity which results in increased skin penetrability of the ethosomes. These ethosomes permeates inside the skin and fuse with cell membrane lipids and release the drug. Hot and cold methods are used for formulation of ethosomes. Evaluation parameters include size, shape, drug content, zeta potential etc. Ethosomes have been successfully evaluated for the delivery of many drugs for e.g. Cyclosporine A, insulin, salbutmol, trihexyphenidil, etc. Ethosomes provides a number of important benefits including improving the drug’s efficacy, enhancing patient compliance and comfort and reducing the total cost of treatment. Ethosomes can be important drug delivery tool in the future. KEYWORDS: Ethosomes, Transdermal, Vesicular carriers, Ethanol, Phospholipid.