Some recent advances on liposomal and niosomal vesicular carriers

Efficient and safe drug delivery has always been a challenge in theraphy and diagnostics. The use of nanotechnology, as well as the development of nanocarriers for drug delivery, received great attention according to the evidence that they can theoretically act as “magic bullets” capable to hit the target cells while sparing normal tissues and organs. Since 1980 the formulation of vesicular carriers became a tool to improve drug delivery. Liposomes and niosomes are self assembled nanocarriers obtained by hydration of amphiphilic molecules and appropriate amounts of cholesterol. Vesicular carriers can be unilamellar or multilamellar, are suitable as carriers of both hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs and are able to deliver drugs to the target site. The vesicle properties are specifically dictated by size, shape, and surface chemistry which are able to modify the intrinsic pharmacokinetics of the drug and, eventually, drug targeting to the pathological areas. This up-to-date review deals with the importance of various vesicular carriers in drug delivery with particular emphasis on innovative liposomes and niosomes developed at the Department of Drug Chemistry and Technologies at “Sapienza” University of Rome.