REVIEW ON FORMULATION AND EVALUATION FOR ETHOSOMAL GEL

V. Manikandan*, M. Sujitha

ABSTRACT

Ethosomal gel is an advanced lipid-based vesicular system developed to improve the topical and transdermal delivery of drugs by enhancing their penetration through the stratum corneum. Ethosomes are composed mainly of phospholipids, ethanol, and water, with ethanol playing a key role in increasing vesicle flexibility and skin permeability. Incorporating ethosomes into a gel base enhances viscosity, spreadability, stability, and patient acceptability while prolonging drug retention at the application site. Ethosomal gels have shown promising results in delivering anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antiviral, analgesic, corticosteroid, and herbal drugs with improved bioavailability and reduced systemic side effects. This review highlights the composition, preparation methods, formulation strategies, evaluation parameters, advantages, limitations, and pharmaceutical applications of ethosomal gels as an efficient topical drug delivery system.

Keywords: Ethosomes, Ethosomal Gel, Topical Drug Delivery, Transdermal Drug Delivery, Phospholipids, Ethanol, Vesicular Drug Delivery.