Niosomes: A Novel Carrier Drug Delivery System

Niosomes are a novel drug delivery system, in which the medication is encapsulated in a vesicle. The vesicle is composed of a bilayer of non-ionic surfactants. Niosomes are mostly preferred than liposomes because they are stable and cost effective. Niosomes potentiate the pharmacological action of the drug molecules by delaying the clearance of the drug from the circulation, protecting the drug from biological environment and restricting the effects only to the target cells. In novel drug delivery it has applications on treatment of cancer, used as a carrier in haemoglobin, delivery of the peptide drugs through oral route, in treatment of leishmaniasis, in ophthalmic delivery and as carrier in dermal drug delivery. This review article focuses on the composition, advantages, types of niosomes, methods of preparation, characterization and application of the vesicular system. Keywords: Niosomes, Composition, Types, Method of preparation, Factors affecting, Application.