NIOSOMES: A PROMISING NANOCARRIER FOR BCS CLASS IV DRUG DELIVERY

Sukanya Patil*, Jaya Agnihotri and Dr. Indira Parab

ABSTRACT

As per the biopharmaceutics classification system (BCS), all the drugs are categorized into four different classes following their solubility and permeability. Of these classes, BCS class IV drugs exhibit many problematic characteristics for effective oral and peroral drug delivery. Problems such as poor aqueous solubility and low intestinal permeability result in poor absorption and low bioavailability. Thus, the formulation and development of an efficacious system for the delivery of these class IV drugs is a tedious task for any formulator. To be effective clinically drugs belonging to this class require the development of a proper system for both oral as well as peroral delivery. Thus, various techniques and strategies are applied for the delivery of BCS class IV drugs. Some of the techniques employed are lipid-based delivery systems by use of lipid carriers such as liposomes, niosomes, aquasomes, and ethosomes; polymer-based nanocarriers; nanocrystals and co-crystals; self-nano-emulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) as well as self-micro-emulsifying drug delivery system (SMEDDS). Of these, the niosomal approach is widely used for the delivery of both hydrophilic as well as lipophilic drugs. By utilization of nonionic surfactants, cholesterol, and charge inducers in varying ratios.

Keywords: Biopharmaceutics, Solubility, Permeability, BCS class IV drugs, Niosomes.