PRONIOSOMAL DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS: FABRICATION APPROACHES, MECHANISTIC INSIGHTS, AND MULTIFUNCTIONAL THERAPEUTIC APPLICATIONS

Proniosomes have emerged as a versatile and advanced provesicular drug delivery system designed to overcome the limitations associated with conventional vesicular carriers such as liposomes and niosomes. These dry, free-flowing formulations are composed of non-ionic surfactants, lipids, and carrier materials, and upon hydration, they spontaneously convert into niosomal vesicles capable of encapsulating both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs. This unique transformation enhances physicochemical stability, minimizes drug leakage, and improves shelf-life compared to traditional systems.The present review highlights the structural design, mechanistic aspects, fabrication strategies, and physicochemical characterization of proniosomes, along with their functional modifications for targeted and controlled drug delivery. Advanced engineering approaches, including ligand-mediated targeting, polymer hybridization, and stimuli-responsive systems, further expand their applicability by enabling site-specific drug release and improved therapeutic efficiency. Proniosomes demonstrate significant potential across multiple routes of administration, including oral, parenteral, transdermal, ocular, pulmonary, intranasal, and vaginal delivery. Their ability to enhance drug solubility, protect labile molecules from degradation, and improve bioavailability has been validated through various pharmacokinetic and preclinical studies. Despite these advantages, challenges such as scale-up complexities, cost considerations, and limited clinical data remain barriers to their widespread application. Nevertheless, ongoing advancements in formulation design and manufacturing technologies are expected to facilitate their clinical translation. Overall, proniosomes represent a promising platform for next-generation drug delivery with improved efficacy, safety, and patient compliance.