Transfersomes in Advanced Drug Delivery: A Comprehensive Review of Design, Mechanism, and Clinical Applications

The advancement of transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS) marks a significant shift in pharmaceutical technology, offering non-invasive, sustained, and targeted therapy. Transfersomes—highly deformable, lipid-based vesicles—have revolutionized this domain by overcoming the skin’s natural barrier, the stratum corneum. Composed of phospholipids and edge activators, these vesicles exhibit exceptional flexibility, allowing efficient penetration into deeper skin layers and enabling both local and systemic drug delivery. Transfersomes are capable of encapsulating hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs, improving bioavailability, reducing dosing frequency, and minimizing systemic side effects. They are especially beneficial in managing skin-related diseases such as cancer, psoriasis, and chronic wounds. Despite some formulation and stability challenges, their adaptability, safety, and proven effectiveness in both preclinical and clinical studies make them a powerful tool in modern drug delivery. This review explores the mechanisms, formulation techniques, influencing factors, and broad applications of transfersomes, underlining their transformative role in future therapeutics.