Abstract

Dr. Satendra Kumar* and Dr. Anil Kumar

ABSTRACT

Niosomes are a novel drug delivery system, in which the medication is encapsulated in a vesicle. The vesicle is composed of a bilayers of non-ionic surface active agents and hence the name niosomes. Structurally, niosomes are similar to liposomes, in that they are also made up of bilayers. However, the bilayers of niosomes are made up of non-ionic surface active agents rather than phospholipids as seen in the case of liposomes. Niosome are non-ionic surfactant vesicles obtained on hydration of synthetic nonionic surfactants, with or without incorporation of cholesterol or their lipids. They are vesicular systems similar to liposomes that can be used as carriers of amphiphilic and lipophilic drugs. Noisome are promising vehicle for drug delivery and being non-ionic; and Niosomes are biodegradable, biocompatible non-immunogenic and exhibit flexibility in their structural characterization. Niosomes have been widely evaluated for controlled release and targeted delivery for the treatment of cancer, viral infections and other microbial diseases. Niosomes can entrap both hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs and can prolong the circulation of the entrapped drug in body. Encapsulation of drug in vesicular system can be predicted to prolong the existence of drug in the systemic circulation and enhance penetration into target tissue, perhaps reduce toxicity if selective uptake can be achieved. Niosomes present a structure similar to liposome and hence they can represent alternative vesicular systems with respect to liposomes, due to the niosomes ability to encapsulate different type of drugs within their multi environmental structure. This review article focuses on the advantages, Disadvantages, preparation methods, factors affecting, characterizations, in vitro methods, drug release kinetics, and applications.