Authors : Kamaleshwari B.; Sanjai Kumar E.; Dhanesh T.; Ashok V.; Roshini S.; Dhivya P.

Volume/Issue : Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 2 - February

Google Scholar : https://tinyurl.com/38bd5wju

Scribd : https://tinyurl.com/msy4swmv

DOI : https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26feb949

Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.

Abstract : Transdermal drug delivery has gained significant attention as a non-invasive alternative to conventional oral and parenteral routes; however, the formidable barrier function of the stratum corneum limits effective drug permeation. Ethosomes, ethanol-rich lipid vesicular systems composed primarily of phospholipids, ethanol, and water, have emerged as an advanced nanocarrier capable of overcoming this limitation. The high ethanol content imparts exceptional deformability to ethosomal membranes while simultaneously disrupting the lipid organization of the stratum corneum, thereby enhancing skin penetration and drug deposition. This review comprehensively discusses the composition, structural characteristics, types of ethosomes (classical, binary, transethosomes, nanoethosomes, composite and ligand-targeted systems), mechanisms of skin permeation, characterization parameters, and various preparation techniques. Furthermore, current applications of ethosomes in dermatological, transdermal, oncological, phytopharmaceutical, and cosmeceutical drug delivery are highlighted, along with their comparative advantages over conventional vesicular carriers. The review also addresses recent advances and future perspectives, emphasizing the potential of ethosomes as versatile and efficient nanovesicular systems for topical and transdermal therapeutic delivery

Keywords : Ethosomes, Skin Permeation Enhancement, Stratum Corneum, Transdermal Drug Delivery, Nanovesicular System, Future Perspectives.

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