Abstract

Nanotechnology has created one of the most dynamic science and technology domains at the confluence of physical sciences, molecular engineering, biology, biotechnology and medicine. There has been a considerable research interest in the area of developing drug delivery using nanoparticles (NP’s) as carriers for small and large molecules. Targeting delivery of drugs to the diseased lesions is one of the most important aspects of drug delivery system especially brain. They have been used in-vivo to protect the drug entity in the systemic circulation, restrict access of the drug to the chosen sites and to deliver the drug at a controlled and sustained rate to this site of action. Niosomes are non-ionic surfactant vesicles obtained on hydration of synthetic nonionic surfactants, with or without incorporation of cholesterol or other lipids. They are vesicular systems similar to liposomes that can be used as carriers of amphiphilic and lipophilic drugs. Various polymers have been used in the formulation of niosomes for drug delivery research to increase therapeutic benefit, while minimizing the side-effects. It is obvious that niosome appears to be a well preferred drug delivery system over liposome as niosome being stable and economic. Also niosomes have great drug delivery potential for targeted delivery of anti-cancer, antiinfective agents.Drug delivery potential of niosome can enhance by using novel concepts like proniosomes, discomes and aspasome.Niosomes represent a promising drug delivery module. Niosomes are thoughts to be better candidates drug delivery as compared to liposomes due to various factors like cost, stability etc. Various types of drug deliveries can be possible using niosomes like targeting, ophthalmic, topical and parenteral.

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