Modified Phospholipid Vesicular Gel for Transdermal Drug Delivery: The Influence of Glycerin and/or Ethanol on Their Lipid Bilayer Fluidity and Penetration Characteristics

This review explores the enhanced transdermal therapy of several skin disorders with the application of carriers comprising phospholipid vesicular gel systems. Topical drug delivery has several advantages compared to other administration methods, including enhanced patient compliance, the avoidance...

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Main Authors: Marwa H. Abdallah, Mona M. Shahien, Hemat El-Sayed El-Horany, Enas Haridy Ahmed
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Gels
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/5/358
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author Marwa H. Abdallah
Mona M. Shahien
Hemat El-Sayed El-Horany
Enas Haridy Ahmed
author_facet Marwa H. Abdallah
Mona M. Shahien
Hemat El-Sayed El-Horany
Enas Haridy Ahmed
author_sort Marwa H. Abdallah
collection DOAJ
description This review explores the enhanced transdermal therapy of several skin disorders with the application of carriers comprising phospholipid vesicular gel systems. Topical drug delivery has several advantages compared to other administration methods, including enhanced patient compliance, the avoidance of the first-pass impact associated with oral administration, and the elimination of the need for repeated doses. Nonetheless, the skin barrier obstructs the penetration of drugs, hence affecting its therapeutic efficacy. Carriers with phospholipid soft vesicles comprise a novel strategy used to augment drug delivery into the skin and boost therapeutic efficacy. These vesicles encompass chemicals that possess the ability to fluidize phospholipid bilayers, producing a pliable vesicle that facilitates penetration into the deeper layers of the skin. Phospholipid-based vesicular carriers have been extensively studied for improved drug delivery through dermal and transdermal pathways. Traditional liposomes are limited to the stratum corneum of the skin and do not penetrate the deeper layers. Ethosomes, glycerosomes, and glycethosomes are nanovesicular systems composed of ethanol, glycerol, or a combination of ethanol and glycerol, respectively. Their composition produce pliable vesicles by fluidizing the phospholipid bilayers, facilitating deeper penetration into the skin. This article examines the impact of ethanol and glycerol on phospholipid vesicles, and outlines their respective manufacturing techniques. Thus far, these discrepancies have not been analyzed comparatively. The review details several active compounds integrated into these nanovesicular gel systems and examined through in vitro, in vivo, or clinical human trials involving compositions with various active molecules for the treatment of various dermatological conditions.
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spelling doaj-art-bb3c08f6b1ed4ed19d35e631f2bf19332025-08-20T02:33:56ZengMDPI AGGels2310-28612025-05-0111535810.3390/gels11050358Modified Phospholipid Vesicular Gel for Transdermal Drug Delivery: The Influence of Glycerin and/or Ethanol on Their Lipid Bilayer Fluidity and Penetration CharacteristicsMarwa H. Abdallah0Mona M. Shahien1Hemat El-Sayed El-Horany2Enas Haridy Ahmed3Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Ha’il, Ha’il 81442, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Ha’il, Ha’il 81422, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Ha’il, Ha’il 81422, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Anatomy, College of Medicine, University of Ha’il, Ha’il 81442, Saudi ArabiaThis review explores the enhanced transdermal therapy of several skin disorders with the application of carriers comprising phospholipid vesicular gel systems. Topical drug delivery has several advantages compared to other administration methods, including enhanced patient compliance, the avoidance of the first-pass impact associated with oral administration, and the elimination of the need for repeated doses. Nonetheless, the skin barrier obstructs the penetration of drugs, hence affecting its therapeutic efficacy. Carriers with phospholipid soft vesicles comprise a novel strategy used to augment drug delivery into the skin and boost therapeutic efficacy. These vesicles encompass chemicals that possess the ability to fluidize phospholipid bilayers, producing a pliable vesicle that facilitates penetration into the deeper layers of the skin. Phospholipid-based vesicular carriers have been extensively studied for improved drug delivery through dermal and transdermal pathways. Traditional liposomes are limited to the stratum corneum of the skin and do not penetrate the deeper layers. Ethosomes, glycerosomes, and glycethosomes are nanovesicular systems composed of ethanol, glycerol, or a combination of ethanol and glycerol, respectively. Their composition produce pliable vesicles by fluidizing the phospholipid bilayers, facilitating deeper penetration into the skin. This article examines the impact of ethanol and glycerol on phospholipid vesicles, and outlines their respective manufacturing techniques. Thus far, these discrepancies have not been analyzed comparatively. The review details several active compounds integrated into these nanovesicular gel systems and examined through in vitro, in vivo, or clinical human trials involving compositions with various active molecules for the treatment of various dermatological conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/5/358ethosomesglycerosomesglycethosomesgelethanolglycerin
spellingShingle Marwa H. Abdallah
Mona M. Shahien
Hemat El-Sayed El-Horany
Enas Haridy Ahmed
Modified Phospholipid Vesicular Gel for Transdermal Drug Delivery: The Influence of Glycerin and/or Ethanol on Their Lipid Bilayer Fluidity and Penetration Characteristics
Gels
ethosomes
glycerosomes
glycethosomes
gel
ethanol
glycerin
title Modified Phospholipid Vesicular Gel for Transdermal Drug Delivery: The Influence of Glycerin and/or Ethanol on Their Lipid Bilayer Fluidity and Penetration Characteristics
title_full Modified Phospholipid Vesicular Gel for Transdermal Drug Delivery: The Influence of Glycerin and/or Ethanol on Their Lipid Bilayer Fluidity and Penetration Characteristics
title_fullStr Modified Phospholipid Vesicular Gel for Transdermal Drug Delivery: The Influence of Glycerin and/or Ethanol on Their Lipid Bilayer Fluidity and Penetration Characteristics
title_full_unstemmed Modified Phospholipid Vesicular Gel for Transdermal Drug Delivery: The Influence of Glycerin and/or Ethanol on Their Lipid Bilayer Fluidity and Penetration Characteristics
title_short Modified Phospholipid Vesicular Gel for Transdermal Drug Delivery: The Influence of Glycerin and/or Ethanol on Their Lipid Bilayer Fluidity and Penetration Characteristics
title_sort modified phospholipid vesicular gel for transdermal drug delivery the influence of glycerin and or ethanol on their lipid bilayer fluidity and penetration characteristics
topic ethosomes
glycerosomes
glycethosomes
gel
ethanol
glycerin
url https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/11/5/358
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