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Transfersome, an ultra-deformable lipid-based drug nanocarrier: an updated review with therapeutic applications

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Abstract

The application of nanotechnology with integration of chemical sciences is increasing continuously in the management of diseases. The drug’s physicochemical and pharmacological characteristics are enhanced by application of nanotechnological principles. Several nanotechnology-based formulations are being investigated to improve patient compliance. One such novel nanocarrier system is transfersome (TFS) and is composed of natural biocompatible phospholipids and edge activators. Morphologically, TFS are similar to liposomes but functionally, these are ultra-deformable vesicles which can travel through pores smaller than their size. Because of their amphipathic nature, TFS have the potential to deliver the drugs through sensitive biological membranes, especially the blood-brain barrier, skin layers, and nasal epithelium. Different molecular weight drugs can be transferred inside the cell by encapsulation into the TFS. Knowing the tremendous potentiality of TFS, the present work provides an in-depth and detailed account (pharmaceutical and preclinical characteristics) of TFS incorporating different categories of therapeutic moieties (anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-oxidant, cardiovascular drugs, CNS acting drugs, vaccine delivery, and miscellaneous applications). It also includes information about the methods of preparation employed, significance of excipients used in the preparation, summary of clinical investigations performed, patent details, latest investigations, routes of administration, challenges, and future progresses related to TFS.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are greatly thankful to the Faculty of Pharmacy, Integral University for providing necessary facilities during writing of this review article. The authors are also grateful to the research cell of the Integral University for meticulous supervision and support.

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  1. Faculty of Pharmacy, Integral University, Lucknow, 226026, India

    Simrah, Abdul Hafeez, Shazia Afzal Usmani & Mishkaat Parveen Izhar

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  1. Simrah
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  2. Abdul Hafeez
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  3. Shazia Afzal Usmani
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  4. Mishkaat Parveen Izhar
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Contributions

All the authors contributed to the study conception and design. Data collection and main manuscript text writing were performed by Simrah and Abdul Hafeez. Data analysis was performed by Shazia Afzal Usmani and Mishkaat Parveen Izhar. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Simrah, and Abdul Hafeez reviewed and commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All the authors reviewed and approved the final manuscript. The authors confirm that no paper mill and artificial intelligence was used.

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Correspondence to Abdul Hafeez.

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Simrah, Hafeez, A., Usmani, S.A. et al. Transfersome, an ultra-deformable lipid-based drug nanocarrier: an updated review with therapeutic applications. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch Pharmacol 397, 639–673 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00210-023-02670-8

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