Non-ionic surfactant based vesicles (niosomes) in drug delivery

Non-ionic surfactant vesicles (niosomes): Physical and pharmaceutical chemistry

Characterization of vesicles prepared with various non-ionic surfactants mixed with cholesterol

Studies on a high encapsulation of colchicine by a niosome system

During the past decade formulation of vesicles as a tool to improve drug delivery, has created a lot of interest amongst the scientist working in the area of drug delivery systems. Vesicular system such as liposomes, niosomes, transferosomes, pharmacosomes and ethosomes provide an alternative to improve the drug delivery. Niosomes play an important role owing to their nonionic properties, in such drug delivery system. Design and development of novel drug delivery system (NDDS) has two prerequisites. First, it should deliver the drug in accordance with a predetermined rate and second it should release therapeutically effective amount of drug at the site of action. Conventional dosage forms are unable to meet these requisites. Niosomes are essentially non-ionic surfactant based multilamellar or unilamellar vesicles in which an aqueous solution of solute is entirely enclosed by a membrane resulting from the organization of surfactant macromolecules as bilayer. Niosomes are formed on hydration of non-ionic surfactant film which eventually hydrates imbibing or encapsulating the hydrating aqueous solution. The main aim of development of niosomes is to control the release of drug in a sustained way, modification of distribution profile of drug and for targeting the drug to the specific body site. This paper deals with composition, characterization/evaluation, merits, demerits and applications of niosomes.

Niosomes: A Controlled and Novel Drug Delivery System

Nonionic surfactant vesicles (niosomes) are promising drug carriers for anticancer drugs. Niosome encapsulated vincristine sulfate prepared by transmembrane pH gradient drug uptake process (remote loading method) was evaluated for toxicity and antitumour activity after administration to tumour bearing mice. The toxicity of vincristine sulfate was reduced after niosome encapsulation and anticancer activity improved, which may be due to better delivery of vincristine at the tumour site.

Niosome Encapsulated of Vincristine Sulfate: Improved Anticancer Activity with Reduced Toxicity in Mice

Methotrexate niosomes were formed by reverse phase evaporation technique using sorbitan monostearate (Span 60) surfactant. The pharmacokinetic parameters of methotrexate (MTX) after macrophage activation via muramyl dipeptide gelatin conjugate were studied and the results compared with those obtained after free MTX and MTX niosomes without macrophage activation. In mice MTX concentrations and tumour regression were higher after macrophage activation.

Effect of macrophage activation on plasma disposition of niosomal 3H-methotrexate in sarcoma-180 bearing mice.

Effects of encapsulation within niosomes (nonionic surfactant vesicles) on the biological distribution and toxicity of vincristine-a widely used anticancer drug have been investigated. Plasma kinetics, tissue distribution profile and neuromuscular toxicity of niosomal vincristine (NVCR) were compared with those of free vincristine (FVCR). NVCR was cleared from the plasma much more slowly [t1/2(beta) = 1.388 hr] than FVCR [t1/2(beta) = 0.74 hr]. Over the 48 hr period of experiment, the niosome formulation delivered significantly more drug to the plasma compartment than FVCR and resulted in reduced accumulation of drug in gut and skeletal muscle. Encapsulation caused a marked alteration in the tissue disposition of the drug. NVCR was less toxic both in terms of mortality and morbidity. Importantly, histopathological studies of skeletal muscle, spinal cord and sciatic nerve of NVCR treated albino wistar rats demonstrated the less toxic potential of encapsulated vincristine. Further, the biochemical studies, estimation of enzymes plasma creatine phosphokinase and lactate dehydrogenase, confirmed the safety profile of NVCR. The decreased partitioning of NVCR to non active sites resulted in a significant amelioration of the toxic side effects, gastrointestinal and myological in particular, of the drug. The results indicate that the delivery of vincristine by encapsulating it in niosomes offer an efficient means of decreasing its toxic effects.

Pillai Gk

Papers

Niosome Encapsulated of Vincristine Sulfate: Improved Anticancer Activity with Reduced Toxicity in Mice

Effect of macrophage activation on plasma disposition of niosomal 3H-methotrexate in sarcoma-180 bearing mice.

Altered biological distribution and decreased neuromuscular toxicity of niosome encapsulated vincristine