RECENT ADVANCES IN GLYCEROSOMES: FORMULATION STRATEGIES, CHARACTERIZATION, SKIN PERMEATION MECHANISMS, AND THERAPEUTIC APPLICATIONS
Shilpa Hanamant Jagtap, Dhyanendra Singh Baghel
ABSTRACT
Topical drug delivery has emerged as an effective approach for the localized treatment of skin disorders by providing sustained drug release, improved therapeutic efficacy, and enhanced patient compliance while minimizing systemic adverse effects. However, the barrier function of the stratum corneum limits the penetration of many therapeutic agents, necessitating the development of advanced vesicular drug delivery systems. Among these, glycerosomes have gained considerable attention due to their superior flexibility, enhanced skin permeation, improved drug entrapment, and excellent stability compared to conventional liposomes. Glycerosomes are phospholipid-based nanovesicles containing a high concentration of glycerol, which increases membrane fluidity and facilitates deeper penetration into the skin. This review highlights the composition, characteristics, preparation methods, and evaluation parameters of glycerosomes, including thin-film hydration, reverse-phase evaporation, solvent injection, sonication, freeze–thaw, detergent removal, and other commonly employed techniques. The review also discusses physicochemical characterization, vesicle morphology, particle size, entrapment efficiency, deformability index, in vitro drug release, penetration studies, and stability evaluation. Furthermore, the therapeutic applications of glycerosomes in topical drug delivery are comprehensively summarized, including their use in skin cancer, inflammatory disorders, oxidative stress-related skin damage, rheumatoid arthritis, fungal infections, and wound healing. Recent research demonstrates that glycerosomes significantly enhance drug permeation, skin retention, controlled release, antioxidant activity, and therapeutic efficacy while reducing toxicity. Owing to these advantages, glycerosomes have emerged as promising nanocarriers for dermal and transdermal drug delivery. Continued research and clinical investigations are expected to expand their applications in the treatment of various dermatological disorders and improve the effectiveness of topical pharmaceutical formulations.
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