Niosomal Drug Delivery Systems for Ocular Disease—Recent Advances and Future Prospects

Abstract

The eye is a complex organ consisting of several protective barriers and particular defense mechanisms. Since this organ is exposed to various infections, genetic disorders, and visual impairments it is essential to provide necessary drugs through the appropriate delivery routes and vehicles. The topical route of administration, as the most commonly used approach, maybe inefficient due to low drug bioavailability. New generation safe, effective, and targeted drug delivery systems based on nanocarriers have the capability to circumvent limitations associated with the complex anatomy of the eye. Nanotechnology, through various nanoparticles like niosomes, liposomes, micelles, dendrimers, and different polymeric vesicles play an active role in ophthalmology and ocular drug delivery systems. Niosomes, which are nano-vesicles composed of non-ionic surfactants, are emerging nanocarriers in drug delivery applications due to their solution/storage stability and cost-effectiveness. Additionally, they are biocompatible, biodegradable, flexible in structure, and suitable for loading both hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs. These characteristics make niosomes promising nanocarriers in the treatment of ocular diseases. Hereby, we review niosome based drug delivery approaches in ophthalmology starting with different preparation methods of niosomes, drug loading/release mechanisms, characterization techniques of niosome nanocarriers and eventually successful applications in the treatment of ocular disorders.

Thymoquinone, as a Novel Therapeutic Candidate of Cancers

“…A TQ-loaded liposome (TQ-LP) with entrapment efficiency of 90% was prepared by using the conventional thin-film hydration technique via 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine phospholipids showing cytotoxicity against T47D and MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines with little effect on the normal cells [ 46 ]. Niosomes are another lipid carrier formed in an aqueous medium from the self-assembly of nonionic surfactants, resulting in closed bilayer structures [ 47 ]. They have favorable properties such as biodegradability, biocompatibility, and nontoxic nature [ 48 ].…”

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“…They may be lamellar or multilamellar 6,7 . Simvastatin is derived synthetically from fermentation products of Aspergillus terreus 8 .…”

Methodical Design of Viral Vaccines Based on Avant-Garde Nanocarriers: A Multi-Domain Narrative Review

“…Non-ionic surfactant vesicles (NSVs), also known as niosomes, are relatively new drug delivery systems that are employed for managed and targeted delivery of drugs because of their ease of preparation on large scales and cost-effectiveness [ 69 , 70 ]. Moreover, their characteristics such as biocompatibility, biodegradability, and flexibility in structure have made them ideal carriers for loading hydrophobic and hydrophilic drugs [ 71 ]. These carriers have been applied in many areas, including gene transfer and vaccine delivery [ 72 ].…”