FORMULATION AND EVALUATION OF LORAZEPAM LOADED TRANSFEROSOMES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF NEURODEGENERATIVE DISORDERS

Abstract

Transferosomes are ultra-deformable vesicular carriers widely explored for enhanced transdermal drug delivery. These vesicles are composed mainly of phospholipids and edge activators, which impart high elasticity and deformability, enabling them to penetrate through the narrow pores of the stratum corneum. Transferosomes can encapsulate both hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs and deliver them effectively into deeper layers of the skin or systemic circulation. Due to their unique structure and flexibility, they provide improved drug permeation, prolonged release, enhanced bioavailability, and reduced systemic side effects compared to conventional dosage forms. Various preparation techniques such as rotary film evaporation, reverse phase evaporation, ethanol injection, vortex-sonication, and freeze-thaw methods are employed for their formulation. Characterization parameters including vesicle size, zeta potential, entrapment efficiency, morphology, drug content, and in vitro permeation studies are essential for evaluating their performance. Transferosomes have shown promising applications in the delivery of corticosteroids, NSAIDs, peptides, proteins, vaccines, herbal drugs, and anticancer agents. Despite limitations such as oxidative instability and difficulties in phospholipid purification, transferosomes remain a highly efficient and promising carrier system for controlled and targeted transdermal drug delivery. Their ability to overcome the barrier properties of the skin makes them an advanced and effective approach in modern pharmaceutical research.