Exploring Therapeutic Potential of Invasomes, Transfersomes, Transethosomes, Oleic Acid Vesicles, and Cubosomes Adopting Topical/Transdermal Route

Background: Transdermal drug delivery is considered a better alternative to oral administration of drugs like proteins or peptides that are susceptible to extensive degradation via first pass metabolism. This delivery route also shows high patient compliance due to no use of painful injections. Conventional delivery systems like creams and gel show poor skin permeation and high dosing frequency. Objective: The objective of this work was to investigate the role of highly advanced micro and nanocarrier systems like invasomes, transfersomes, transethosomes, oleic acid vesicles, and cubosomes for transdermal drug delivery exploring literature survey. Methods: Literature survey for these advanced micro and nanocarrier systems was carried out using search engines like Pubmed and Google scholar. Results: Results of literature investigations revealed that advanced micro and nanocarrier systems discussed earlier have the caliber to enhance skin permeation of various bioactives, show sustain release, and target particular areas of skin better compared to old nanocarriers like liposomes. Conclusion: The present review concludes that advanced micro and nanocarrier systems like invasomes, transfersomes, transethosomes, oleic acid vesicles, and cubosomes are better alternatives for transdermal delivery of therapeutic agents compared to old nanocarriers like liposomes and conventional delivery systems like creams and gels.