CURRENT STATUS AND FUTURE PROSPECTS OF TRANSFERSOMAL DRUG DELIVERY

Vesicular systems have gained immense importance in the last few years as a means for sustained and efficient drug delivery. This article was designed to review all aspects of a novel class of vesicles, transfersomes. Transfersomes (elastic or ultraflexible liposomes) were a new class of lipid vesicles introduced. Transfersomes overcome the skin barrier by opening extracellular pathways between cells in the organ and then deforming to fit into such passages. In the process, Transfersomes undergo a series of stress-dependent adjustments of the local carrier composition to minimize the resistance of motion through the otherwise confining channel. It exists as an ultra-deformable complex having a hydrated core surrounded by a complex layer of lipid. The carrier aggregate is composed of at least one amphipathic molecule (like phospholipids) which when added to aqueous systems self-assemble into a bilayer of lipid which eventually closes into a lipid vesicle and one bilayer softening agent which is generally a surfactant which is responsible for the flexibility of the vesicle. Transfersomes provide the primary advantage of higher entrapment efficiency along with a depot formation which releases the contents slowly. The characterisation of transfersomes is similar to that of other vesicles like liposomes, niosomes and micelles. Transfersomes can be used for delivery of insulin, corticosteroids, proteins and peptides, interferons, anti-cancer drugs, anaesthetics, NSAIDs and herbal drugs.

Keywords: Transfersomes, Transdermal, Skin barrier, Corticosteroids, Carrier aggregate.