ETHOSOMAL DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS: A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF FORMULATION STRATEGIES, MECHANISM OF ACTION, AND THERAPEUTIC APPLICATIONS

Topical and transdermal drug delivery systems have gained increasing attention because of their non-invasive nature, improved patient compliance, and ability to bypass first-pass metabolism. Despite these advantages, the stratum corneum acts as a major barrier, restricting the penetration of many therapeutic agents. Ethosomes, novel lipid-based vesicular carriers containing a high concentration of ethanol, have emerged as an effective strategy to overcome this limitation. Ethanol enhances vesicular flexibility, increases skin permeability, and improves drug-loading capacity compared to conventional liposomes. This review presents a comprehensive overview of ethosomal drug delivery systems, including their composition, types, mechanisms of action, preparation methods, advantages, disadvantages, and evaluation parameters. Special emphasis is placed on their application in the topical and transdermal management of joint pain.