**1.1 Liposomes**

Liposomes are micro-sized spheres in which an aqueous core is surrounded by one or more lipid bi-layer. The lipid bi-layers are separated by water or aqueous buffer compartments, liposomes are simple microscopic vesicles in which aqueous volume is entirely enclosed by a membrane composed of lipid bilayers [13] (**Figure 1**).


#### **Table 3.**

*Classification of herbal novel drug delivery approach on the basis of their size, shape, and composition.*

**129**

**1.2 Niosomes**

*Structure of niosome [24].*

**Figure 2.**

**Figure 1.**

capability [23] (**Figure 2**).

size ranges from 10 to 100 nm [24].

*Drug Delivery through Targeted Approach with Special References to Phytosomes*

Niosomes are non-ionic surfactant-based liposomes. Niosomes can be obtained

The sizes of Niosomes are microscopic and lie in nanometric scale. The particle

by hydration of liposomes. These are microscopic lamellar structures formed upon combining non-ionic surfactant of the alkyl or dialkyl polyglycerol ether class with cholesterol [15]. The stability of niosomes are affected by type of surfactant, nature of encapsulated drug, storage temperature, detergents, use of membrane spanning lipids, the interfacial polymerization of surfactant monomers in situ, inclusion of charged molecule. Niosomes have great penetrating

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.86644*

*Liposome (source: http://healthproductdistributor.com) [22].*

*Drug Delivery through Targeted Approach with Special References to Phytosomes DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.86644*

#### **Figure 1.**

*Role of Novel Drug Delivery Vehicles in Nanobiomedicine*

delivery and level of the active compounds [12].

release of conventional medicines [11, 12].

shape, and their composition (**Table 3**).

**1.1 Liposomes**

topical administration [11].

currently underway to develop an ideal drug delivery system which satisfies the need of targeted site of action. Biological membrane presents a barrier through which a drug must pass before it gets absorbed or excreted. Lipid solubility and molecular size of drug molecule pose two major limiting factors to pass the biological membrane by which drug can be absorbed systematically following oral or

The conventional herbal dosage form has a problem of standardization and quality control which had relegated its usage in the in last few decades. When the side effects of allopathic drugs outweigh their risk to usage the focus for treatment shifts towards the natural components and herbal system of treatment. In herbal novel drug development polymeric nanoparticles and nanocapsules like liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, phytosomes and nanoemulsion are been formulated. NDDS provides many advantages for herbal drugs including enhancement of solubility and bioavailability, protection from toxicity, enhancement of stability, enhancement of pharmacological action, improving tissue macrophages distribution, sustained delivery, and protection from physical and chemical degradation. The efficacy of herbal product (or medication) is dependent upon effective route of

Novel drug delivery systems deliver the drug components at a rate directed by the need of the body during the period of treatment and channelize the active entity onto the site of action. A number of novel drug delivery systems have been used to deliver herbal medicaments encompassing various routes of administration to achieve controlled and targeted drug delivery, for example, encapsulated vesicles can prolong the existence of the drug in systemic circulation and reduce the toxicity if selective uptake can be achieved through drug targeting, sustained or controlled

The novel drug delivery vehicles can be classified on the basis of their size,

entirely enclosed by a membrane composed of lipid bilayers [13] (**Figure 1**).

Resealed erythrocytes [14] 6–9 μm (diameter)/oval Plasma, protein and platelets

Discomes [16] 16–20 μm/disc shaped vesicles Cholesterol and niosomes

Ethosomes [18] 50–100 nm/spherical Phospholipid and ethanol Phytosomes [19, 20] 10–100 nm/spherical Phospholipid and herbal extract

Aquasome/hydrosomes 60–300 nm/circular Ceramics, carbon [21]

*Classification of herbal novel drug delivery approach on the basis of their size, shape, and composition.*

Transferosomes [17] 170–200 nm/oval Soya phophatidylcholine surfactant

**Name of somes Particle size/shape Composition**

spherical

spherical

Liposomes [13] 100–1000 nm(diameter)/

Niosomes [15] 100–140 nm (diameter)/

Liposomes are micro-sized spheres in which an aqueous core is surrounded by one or more lipid bi-layer. The lipid bi-layers are separated by water or aqueous buffer compartments, liposomes are simple microscopic vesicles in which aqueous volume is

Phospholipids and cholesterol

and drug/antigen

Non-ionic surfactants and cholesterol

**128**

**Table 3.**

*Liposome (source: http://healthproductdistributor.com) [22].*

**Figure 2.** *Structure of niosome [24].*

#### **1.2 Niosomes**

Niosomes are non-ionic surfactant-based liposomes. Niosomes can be obtained by hydration of liposomes. These are microscopic lamellar structures formed upon combining non-ionic surfactant of the alkyl or dialkyl polyglycerol ether class with cholesterol [15]. The stability of niosomes are affected by type of surfactant, nature of encapsulated drug, storage temperature, detergents, use of membrane spanning lipids, the interfacial polymerization of surfactant monomers in situ, inclusion of charged molecule. Niosomes have great penetrating capability [23] (**Figure 2**).

The sizes of Niosomes are microscopic and lie in nanometric scale. The particle size ranges from 10 to 100 nm [24].
