Recent Advances in the Use of Cubosomes as Drug Carriers with Special Emphasis on Topical Applications

Cubosomes (CBs) are emerging as effective drug carriers for topical applications, offering advantages such as enhanced bioadhesion, retention, and sustained drug release. They are particularly promising for treating skin and eye diseases, including psoriasis, alopecia, and glaucoma, due to their structural resemblance to the skin's stratum corneum, which aids in better penetration and retention. CBs can encapsulate both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs, providing improved drug delivery and permeation compared to conventional formulations. Recent advancements, such as microfluidics-based approaches, have improved their stability. Despite challenges like increased viscosity during large-scale production and difficulties in loading hydrophilic drugs, CBs' potential in smart drug delivery and cosmeceutical development is significant, with ongoing research needed to optimize their use.