Phospholipid Vesicles for Enhanced Drug Delivery in Dermatology

Phospholipid vesicles (liposomes) have been widely investigated as carriers for enhancing skin delivery of drugs. The similarity between lipid compositions of liposomes with the skin structures enables liposomes to be used as physiologically acceptable drug delivery nanosystems. By manipulation of their physico-chemical properties the effective skin delivery of the encapsulated/ incorporated drug can be achieved. They can be used as carriers to increase the solubility of the poorly soluble drugs or improve the stability of instable compounds. Phospholipid vesicles enable localized skin delivery of lipophilic drugs, enhance the penetration of hydrophilic drugs and help in reducing the drug irritation. Even without entrapped active compound, they have been shown to improve the skin condition by increasing the hydration level of the skin and integrity of the stratum corneum. The potentials and perspectives of different types of phospholipid vesicles have been summarized in this review, including conventional liposomes, deformable liposomes, ethosomes, invasomes and propylene glycol-containing liposomes, with the emphasis on their potential mechanism of action in enhanced skin delivery.