COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF ETHOSOMES AND TRANSFERSOMES FOR TRANSDERMAL DELIVERY OF ANTI-CANCER AGENT

Narendra Kumar Nyola, Ankita Alice Singh, Shreena Biyani, Muskan Jain, Ritu Bharti, Jyoti Verma, Meenal Soni, Neelam Yadav*

ABSTRACT

The present study focuses on the comparative evaluation of ethosomes and transfersomes as advanced vesicular carriers for the transdermal delivery of the anti-cancer drug Doxorubicin. Both systems were formulated using the thin-film hydration method and optimized for parameters such as entrapment efficiency, vesicle size, zeta potential, and in vitro drug release. The ethosomal formulations contained phosphatidylcholine, ethanol, and cholesterol, while transfersomes were prepared using phosphatidylcholine and edge activators (Tween 80 or Span 80). The physicochemical characterization revealed that ethosomes exhibited smaller vesicle size and higher flexibility compared to transfersomes. In vitro permeation studies through rat skin demonstrated significantly higher drug flux and cumulative permeation for ethosomal formulations, attributed to the presence of ethanol which enhances lipid fluidization and skin permeability. Furthermore, cytotoxicity studies against MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines confirmed superior anti-proliferative activity of ethosomal Doxorubicin compared to transfersomal and conventional formulations. The findings suggest that ethosomes are a more efficient nanocarrier system for the transdermal delivery of Doxorubicin, providing a non-invasive approach for sustained and targeted cancer therapy.

Keywords: Ethosomes; Transfersomes; Transdermal Drug Delivery; Doxorubicin; Anti-Cancer Drug; Nanocarriers; Skin Permeation; Vesicular System; Lipid Vesicles; Controlled Release.