Ethosomes: A Novel Vesicular Carrier for Enhanced Transdermal Drug Delivery

Transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS) offer significant advantages over traditional drug delivery methods but face limitations due to the skin's barrier properties, particularly with conventional liposomal formulations. Ethosomes, a novel lipid-based vesicular carrier system containing high concentrations of ethanol, have emerged as a promising solution. These soft, malleable, and non-invasive vesicles enable deeper skin penetration and systemic drug delivery, overcoming the challenges of the stratum corneum. Ethosomes can effectively deliver both highly lipophilic and cationic drugs such as cannabinoids, testosterone, minoxidil, propranolol, and insulin. Their ease of preparation and scalability make them suitable for commercial applications. This review highlights ethosomes composition, preparation methods, characterization, advantages, limitations, types, and recent research developments, showcasing their potential to enhance drug efficacy, patient compliance, and reduce treatment costs.