Niosome: as a Novel Pharmaceutical Drug Delivery System

Niosomes are novel, non-ionic surfactant-based vesicular drug delivery systems that have gained significant attention in recent years due to their ability to improve the bioavailability, stability, and therapeutic performance of various pharmaceutical agents. Structurally similar to liposomes, niosomes consist of an aqueous core surrounded by a bilayer of non-ionic surfactants and cholesterol, offering enhanced biocompatibility and controlled drug release. They are capable of encapsulating both hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs, thereby providing targeted and sustained delivery with reduced side effects. Several methods such as thin-film hydration, ether injection, reverse-phase evaporation, and microfluidization are employed for their preparation, each influencing vesicle size, entrapment efficiency, and stability. Niosomes have found wide applications in transdermal, ophthalmic, and anticancer drug delivery, as well as in vaccine adjuvants and cosmetic formulations. Their advantages over conventional systems, including chemical stability, low production cost, and easy scale-up, make them promising candidates for future pharmaceutical innovations. This review highlights the composition, types, methods of preparation, characterization parameters, and diverse applications of niosomes, emphasizing their potential as an efficient and versatile drug delivery system.