Current Advances in Specialised Niosomal Drug Delivery: Manufacture, Characterization and Drug Delivery Applications

Abstract

Development of nanomaterials for drug delivery has received considerable attention due to their potential for achieving on-target delivery to the diseased area while the surrounding healthy tissue is spared. Safe and efficiently delivered payloads have always been a challenge in pharmaceutics. Niosomes are self-assembled vesicular nanocarriers formed by hydration of a non-ionic surfactant, cholesterol or other molecules that combine to form a versatile drug delivery system with a variety of applications ranging from topical delivery to targeted delivery. Niosomes have advantages similar to those of liposomes with regards to their ability to incorporate both hydrophilic and hydrophobic payloads. Moreover, niosomes have simple manufacturing methods, low production cost and exhibit extended stability, consequently overcoming the major drawbacks associated with liposomes. This review provides a comprehensive summary of niosomal research to date, including the types of niosomes and critical material attributes (CMA) and critical process parameters (CPP) of niosomes and their effects on the critical quality attributes (CQA) of the technology. Furthermore, physical characterisation techniques of niosomes are provided. The review then highlights recent applications of specialised niosomes in drug delivery. Finally, limitations and prospects for this technology are discussed.

The effect of niosome preparation methods in encapsulating 5-fluorouracil and real time cell assay against HCT-116 colon cancer cell line

“…In the case of colon cancer, ligands like folic acid overexpressed in tumour site will be of immense benefits. Other strategies include the creation of multifunctional smart drug delivery systems or even the modulation of 5-FU with reduced folates like leucovorin [ 50 , 51 , 52 ]. These approaches are beyond the aim of this study; however, they can form the basis for future research works.…”

Nano-Delivery System of Ethanolic Extract of Propolis Targeting Mycobacterium tuberculosis via Aptamer-Modified-Niosomes

“…Besides improvement of physical properties, PEG is widely used for bioconjugation application [ 42 ]. The addition of PEG to the niosome surface allows various biomolecules, such as oligonucleotides, peptides, growth factors, and antibodies, to attach, leading to the accumulation of the drug on the target site [ 52 ]. In this current work, we designed the niosome decorated with Apt specific to Ag85A of Mtb.…”

Recent Advances and Scopes In Niosomes

“…Immuno Niosomes 43 Cyanuric chloride • Hood and associates delivered anti-inflammatory drugs to fixed cells known to express CD44 using the anti-CD44 antibody coupled via a cyanuric chloride linkage…”

“…• These results imply that the resulting immune Niosomes may offer an efficient means of delivering targeted drugs. Magnetic Niosomes 43…”

“…• However, the addition of Span ® 60 to Pluronic ® L64 (80:20) changed the transition temperature to 40 C, which fell with increased concentration of Span 60 to below the average body temperature of 37 C, preventing it from achieving the aforementioned requirements. Stealth Niosomes 43 Brij® 52, Span® 60 and Poloxamer 184…”