Abstract

Nanomaterials for medication delivery have attracted interest owing to their potential for on-target delivery to infected areas while sparing healthy tissue. The aim of the current review was to explore the factors that make niosomes a superior drug delivery system compared to other methods. The study was conducted using the databases such as PubMed, Elsevier, Springer and others in order to set up the required research articles based on the keyword as niosomes. The articles that were relevant to the topic and in English were included in the study. Niosomes differ from liposomes because they are non-ionic spherical surfactants with advantages such as they are less poisonous, less prohibitive to access, non–toxic and comparatively much more stable. Niosomes range from 20-1000 nm; however, they can be classified as nanoparticles or/and nanostructures. Another property attributed to niosomes is their ability to entrap and release both polar and non-polar active compounds with equal effectiveness. For a drug to work, it needs to reach the right place in the body and attach to its target. This allows the drug to have its intended effect. Niosomes can best be described as a potential drug carrier system because well-formulated niosomes can target drugs to specific locations of the body without much harm. This approach minimises the effects that may arise from the drug interacting with other sites or getting into the systemic circulation in the wrong manner. Hence, there is hope for the future advancement in drug delivery systems using niosomes, distinguishing it from conventional techniques. The potential to encapsulate and deliver hydrophilic as well as lipophilic drugs and the capacity of target delivery make them suitable for a number of therapeutic uses. Therefore, with advancement in the research, more extensive applications of niosomes can be visualized in the formulation of advanced drug delivery systems with lesser side effects.

Keywords: Niosomes, cholesterol, polymers, nanotechnology, synthesis of niosomes.