Niosomes as Carriers in Dermal Drug Delivery

The document from 2012 discusses niosomes as a promising carrier system for dermal drug delivery, offering advantages such as encapsulating both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs, enhancing drug penetration, providing sustained release, and being biodegradable, biocompatible, and non-toxic. Niosomes have shown higher bioavailability and effectiveness than conventional dosage forms and are more stable and cost-effective than liposomes. They have been used in various dermatological applications, including local anesthesia, psoriasis, skin whitening, vitiligo, and inflammation, with studies demonstrating improved drug delivery and therapeutic outcomes. For hair loss, niosomal formulations containing finasteride and minoxidil significantly improved hair density and reduced hair loss with better skin retention. Despite their potential, challenges remain in drug loading and surfactant selection for niosome preparation. Further research is needed to address these challenges and fully realize the benefits of niosomes in topical drug delivery.