INVASOMES: A NOVEL LIPID-BASED NANOCARRIER FOR IMPROVED SKIN PERMEATION AND DRUG DELIVERY
Prashant Mishra, Satkar Prasad
ABSTRACT
Transdermal drug delivery systems have gained significant attention due to their ability to provide controlled drug release, improved patient compliance, and avoidance of first-pass metabolism. Among various advanced vesicular carriers, invasomes have emerged as a promising nanocarrier system for enhanced transdermal delivery. Invasomes are lipid-based vesicles composed of phospholipids, ethanol, and terpenes, which act synergistically to improve skin permeation. The presence of ethanol and terpenes enhances the fluidity and deformability of the vesicular membrane, allowing deeper penetration through the stratum corneum. Invasomes exhibit superior characteristics compared to conventional liposomes, including enhanced permeability, flexibility, and ability to deliver both hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs. Various preparation methods such as thin film hydration, reverse phase evaporation, ether injection, and freeze-drying are employed to formulate invasomes with desired properties. Characterization techniques including microscopy, particle size analysis, zeta potential measurement, and spectroscopy are essential for evaluating invasomal systems. Furthermore, invasomes have shown promising applications in the delivery of immunosuppressive, anticancer, antihypertensive, and antioxidant agents. Their ability to enhance drug penetration and improve bioavailability makes them a valuable tool in modern drug delivery. Despite certain limitations such as stability issues and high production cost, invasomes remain a highly effective and innovative approach for transdermal drug delivery systems.
[Full Text Article]