Pharmacosomes: A Vesicular Drug Delivery System

Abstract

In recent years, the use of vesicles as a carrier system has become the alternative choice in drug delivery. They were found to be useful in membrane biology, diagnostic techniques, immunology, and most recently in genetic engineering. Vesicular drug delivery system includes liposomes, aquasomes, enzymosomes, ethosomes, transferosomes, niosomes, pharmacosomes, phytosomes etc. Among of these pharmacosomes have additional benefits like high entrapment efficiency, no loss or leakage of drug and stability. Pharmacosomes exist as micellar forms or ultrafine vesicular or hexagonal aggregates. Pharmacosomes can deliver both hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs. Researchers have prepared pharmacosomes for various cardiovascular drugs, antihyperlipidimics, diuretics, and antibiotics. This review describes about composition, method of preparation, characterization and applications of pharmacosomes.