REVIEW ON EMULSOMES

Novel drug delivery systems aim to optimize drug action by sustaining its release at a predetermined rate or maintaining a relatively constant effective drug level in the body while reducing undesirable side effects. Vesicular drug delivery systems, such as liposomes, niosomes, transferosomes, pharmacosomes, emulsomes, electrosomes, and ethosomes, offer promising solutions for controlled and targeted drug release. Pharmacosomes are amphiphilic phospholipid complexes of drugs that bind covalently to lipid molecules. They allow for site-directed drug delivery, minimizing toxicity and adverse effects. Additionally, they enhance the bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs, thereby reducing therapy costs. Emulsomes, on the other hand, are lipoidal vesicular systems composed of a solid fat core surrounded by a phospholipid bilayer. They are formulated with cholesterol and soya lecithin, and their small size is achieved through sonication during drug loading. This review focuses on the concept of emulsomes and pharmacosomes as vesicular drug delivery systems and highlights their successful application for delivering small molecules. It covers various aspects including formulation design, biopharmaceutical considerations, stability, and future prospects. The advantages, disadvantages, and methods of preparation of emulsomes are discussed, along with their applications in fighting viral and fungal infections, dermal therapies, cancer treatment, and autoimmunity. Emulsomes have demonstrated controlled and sustained drug release for up to 24 hours, surpassing the release capabilities of liposomes (up to 6 hours). Moreover, emulsomes protect drugs from harsh gastric environments and enzymatic degradation, resulting in improved drug bioavailability. Furthermore, emulsomal-based formulations show promise in delivering genetic drugs, antisense oligonucleotides, and plasmids for gene therapy, highlighting their potential for systemic utility in various therapeutic areas.