Ionic liquids self-assembled micelles for transdermal delivery: characterization, functions and applications

Ionic liquid (ILs) self-assembled micelles (ILs-SAMs) are promising and effective drug delivery systems, which combine the merits of ILs and micelles. Herein, the properties, assembly, functions, and treatments of ILs-SAMs in transdermal drug delivery are summarized. This paper first reviews the fun...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ziqing Deng, Shuwei Tang, Mingjie Ou, Zhuxian Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-12-01
Series:International Journal of Pharmaceutics: X
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590156725000350
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849706613542223872
author Ziqing Deng
Shuwei Tang
Mingjie Ou
Zhuxian Wang
author_facet Ziqing Deng
Shuwei Tang
Mingjie Ou
Zhuxian Wang
author_sort Ziqing Deng
collection DOAJ
description Ionic liquid (ILs) self-assembled micelles (ILs-SAMs) are promising and effective drug delivery systems, which combine the merits of ILs and micelles. Herein, the properties, assembly, functions, and treatments of ILs-SAMs in transdermal drug delivery are summarized. This paper first reviews the fundamental concepts, classifications, assembly mechanisms, characterization techniques, and functional roles of ILs-SAMs. ILs-SAMs are micellar structures formed by the self-assembly of ILs through different intermolecular interactions, and are affected by multiple environmental factors. They possess unique physicochemical properties, endowing them with high stability and effective drug carriers, which could regulate their compositions and structures for flexible and controllable characteristics. Next, the review demonstrates that ILs-SAMs offer remarkable advantages in transdermal delivery, including solubilization enhancement, permeation enhancement, and targeted transdermal delivery. It alters the surface tension and viscosity of permeating substances, facilitates transdermal drug penetration, and utilizes nanoscale properties for precise, targeted delivery. Remarkably, ILs-SAMs were compared with other ILs self-assembled nanoparticles (ILs-SANPs) and polymer micelles, and the former possessed superior properties, including easier self-assembly and higher stability. Lastly, it focuses on their applications in treating skin cancer, arthritis, diabetes, fungal infections, and skin photoaging. Collectively, the novel ILs-SAMs are multifunctional transdermal drug delivery systems used for permeation enhancement, targeted drug delivery and different skin disorders.
format Article
id doaj-art-948af65a2d1143918e4bcc58894b9f7b
institution DOAJ
issn 2590-1567
language English
publishDate 2025-12-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series International Journal of Pharmaceutics: X
spelling doaj-art-948af65a2d1143918e4bcc58894b9f7b2025-08-20T03:16:08ZengElsevierInternational Journal of Pharmaceutics: X2590-15672025-12-011010035010.1016/j.ijpx.2025.100350Ionic liquids self-assembled micelles for transdermal delivery: characterization, functions and applicationsZiqing Deng0Shuwei Tang1Mingjie Ou2Zhuxian Wang3School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, ChinaSchool of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, ChinaSchool of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, ChinaDermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510091, China; Corresponding author.Ionic liquid (ILs) self-assembled micelles (ILs-SAMs) are promising and effective drug delivery systems, which combine the merits of ILs and micelles. Herein, the properties, assembly, functions, and treatments of ILs-SAMs in transdermal drug delivery are summarized. This paper first reviews the fundamental concepts, classifications, assembly mechanisms, characterization techniques, and functional roles of ILs-SAMs. ILs-SAMs are micellar structures formed by the self-assembly of ILs through different intermolecular interactions, and are affected by multiple environmental factors. They possess unique physicochemical properties, endowing them with high stability and effective drug carriers, which could regulate their compositions and structures for flexible and controllable characteristics. Next, the review demonstrates that ILs-SAMs offer remarkable advantages in transdermal delivery, including solubilization enhancement, permeation enhancement, and targeted transdermal delivery. It alters the surface tension and viscosity of permeating substances, facilitates transdermal drug penetration, and utilizes nanoscale properties for precise, targeted delivery. Remarkably, ILs-SAMs were compared with other ILs self-assembled nanoparticles (ILs-SANPs) and polymer micelles, and the former possessed superior properties, including easier self-assembly and higher stability. Lastly, it focuses on their applications in treating skin cancer, arthritis, diabetes, fungal infections, and skin photoaging. Collectively, the novel ILs-SAMs are multifunctional transdermal drug delivery systems used for permeation enhancement, targeted drug delivery and different skin disorders.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590156725000350Ionic liquids Self-assembled MicellesTransdermal Drug deliveryDrug delivery SystemAssembly mechanismsPermeation enhancementSkin disorders
spellingShingle Ziqing Deng
Shuwei Tang
Mingjie Ou
Zhuxian Wang
Ionic liquids self-assembled micelles for transdermal delivery: characterization, functions and applications
International Journal of Pharmaceutics: X
Ionic liquids Self-assembled Micelles
Transdermal Drug delivery
Drug delivery System
Assembly mechanisms
Permeation enhancement
Skin disorders
title Ionic liquids self-assembled micelles for transdermal delivery: characterization, functions and applications
title_full Ionic liquids self-assembled micelles for transdermal delivery: characterization, functions and applications
title_fullStr Ionic liquids self-assembled micelles for transdermal delivery: characterization, functions and applications
title_full_unstemmed Ionic liquids self-assembled micelles for transdermal delivery: characterization, functions and applications
title_short Ionic liquids self-assembled micelles for transdermal delivery: characterization, functions and applications
title_sort ionic liquids self assembled micelles for transdermal delivery characterization functions and applications
topic Ionic liquids Self-assembled Micelles
Transdermal Drug delivery
Drug delivery System
Assembly mechanisms
Permeation enhancement
Skin disorders
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590156725000350
work_keys_str_mv AT ziqingdeng ionicliquidsselfassembledmicellesfortransdermaldeliverycharacterizationfunctionsandapplications
AT shuweitang ionicliquidsselfassembledmicellesfortransdermaldeliverycharacterizationfunctionsandapplications
AT mingjieou ionicliquidsselfassembledmicellesfortransdermaldeliverycharacterizationfunctionsandapplications
AT zhuxianwang ionicliquidsselfassembledmicellesfortransdermaldeliverycharacterizationfunctionsandapplications