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Smart Nanomaterials in Biomedical Applications pp 487–506Cite as

Ethosome: A Potential Tool for Drug Delivery Through the Skin

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Part of the book series: Nanotechnology in the Life Sciences ((NALIS))

Abstract

Transdermal drug delivery is a frequently exercised approach to allow the active molecules into the body through the skin owing to their advantages over other delivery systems. This approach can avoid the hepatic metabolism, provide the steady-state plasma drug concentration, evade the frequency of dosages by controlled release tendency, and improve patient compliance. The skin is the largest organ of the body, protects the influx of toxins, and controls essential compounds’ efflux. The stratum corneum (SC) is the first layer of the skin, controlling the permeation process across the skin and made up of dried lipid cells (keratinocytes). Elka Touitou designed ethosome-based drug delivery devices for transdermal delivery in 1997 since traditional skin distribution dosage forms have significant limitations in terms of drug penetration and permeation. Ethosomes are ethanol-embedded flexible vesicular systems having superior properties compared to other liposomes and transfersomes for skin delivery. Ethosomes, by their structure, mode of application, and action mechanism, are different from classic liposomes, transfersomes, and other lipid dispersions. This chapter explores the crux of conventional skin drug delivery systems, adoption of ethosomes as skin drug delivery systems, recent advances in their development, and current market status in the pharmaceutical industry.

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Abbreviations

GIT:

gastrointestinal tract

PG:

propylene glycol

SC:

stratum corneum

TDDS:

transdermal drug delivery system

Tm:

phase transition temperature

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutics, CMR College of Pharmacy, Hyderabad, Telangana, India

    Nimmathota Madhavi

  2. Department of Formulation Research and Development, Airis Pharma Pvt Ltd, Hyderabad, Telangana, India

    Beeravelli Sudhakar

  3. Department of Chemistry, GITAM Institute of Science, GITAM (Deemed to be University), Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India

    K. V. N. Suresh Reddy

Authors
  1. Nimmathota Madhavi
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  2. Beeravelli Sudhakar
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  3. K. V. N. Suresh Reddy
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Science & Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Korea (Republic of)

    Jin-Chul Kim

  2. Institute of Forest Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Korea (Republic of)

    Madhusudhan Alle

  3. Wolaita Sodo University, Wolaita, Ethiopia

    Azamal Husen

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Madhavi, N., Sudhakar, B., Reddy, K.V.N.S. (2021). Ethosome: A Potential Tool for Drug Delivery Through the Skin. In: Kim, JC., Alle, M., Husen, A. (eds) Smart Nanomaterials in Biomedical Applications. Nanotechnology in the Life Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-84262-8_17

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