Ethosome as a colloidal carrier for nasal drug delivery for brain targeting: a review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5530/ajphs.2025.15.80Keywords:
Ethosome, Ethanol, Composition of ethosome, Drug absorption through noseAbstract
As a non-invasive method that offers quick absorption, avoids hepatic first-pass metabolism, and promotes patient compliance, nasal medication delivery has garnered increasing interest. However, its efficacy is hampered by issues including mucociliary clearance and the restricted permeability of big or hydrophilic compounds. A possible remedy is offered by ethosomes, which are new phospholipid-based vesicular carriers enhanced with ethanol that improve drug solubility, stability, and penetration through the nasal mucosa. Their special deformable structure protects against enzymatic degradation and enables better trapping of a variety of medicinal substances, including small molecules, peptides, and proteins. Recent investigations have highlighted their potential to increase bioavailability, prolong drug release, and achieve targeted nasal delivery. Ethosomes, flexible lipid-based vesicular carriers enriched with ethanol, represent a novel strategy for enhancing drug absorption through the nasal mucosa. Their high deformability allows them to penetrate efficiently through both transcellular and paracellular pathways, while ethanol acts as a permeation enhancer by fluidizing epithelial membranes and opening tight junctions. Ethosomes also protect labile drugs such as peptides and proteins from enzymatic degradation and support sustained release, making them particularly valuable for brain targeting via the nasal route. This unique combination of flexibility, enhanced permeability, and protective capability positions ethosomes as an innovative and promising platform for improving nasal drug delivery and overcoming the limitations of conventional formulations.
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