Abstract:

A review. Transdermal delivery has lately emerged as a valuable alternative method to improve bioavailability and increase pharmaceutical efficacy of various drugs. Transdermal administration can potentially minimize side effects as well as first-pass metab. It has been used successfully for hormone replacement therapy, smoking cessation, and pain management. However, there have been challenges in the expanding use of the technol. to numerous types of pharmaceuticals, including extremely hydrophilic or lipophilic drugs, peptides, proteins, and other macromols. In this context, colloidal drug carriers, and in particular lyotropic liq. crystals (LLCs), seem to be promising candidates as the vehicles of unconventional delivery for various drugs. Such vehicles can provide enhanced drug soly., relative protection of the solubilized drugs, and controlled release of drugs, while avoiding substantial side effects. Exhibiting interesting properties for a topical delivery system, LLCs were considered and have been studied as delivery vehicles of pharmaceuticals via the skin and mucosa. This review focuses on lyotropic non-lamellar lyotropic mesophases (hexagonal and cubic) and their nano-dispersions as topical delivery vehicles. Recent advances in transdermal and mucosal drug delivery via LLC carriers are demonstrated and discussed. [on SciFinder(R)]