Recent Advances in Drug Delivery and Formulation - Volume 19, Issue 2, 2025

Non-ionic surfactant vesicles, commonly known as niosomes, have gained significant attention in the field of drug delivery because of their unique properties and advantages. Niosomes are self-assembled vesicles composed of non-ionic surfactants and cholesterol that can entrap both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs within their aqueous core or bilayer. This versatile drug delivery system offers improved stability, prolonged release profiles, reduced toxicity, and enhanced efficacy for a wide range of therapeutic agents. This comprehensive article delves into the structure, function, classification, and advances in niosomes for enhanced drug delivery. It explores various non-ionic surfactants used for niosome formulation and discusses their impact on encapsulation efficiency and stability. Moreover, it highlights the application of niosomes in the delivery of small molecules, proteins, and plant-derived natural products. This article provides an overview of the different formulation methods employed for niosome preparation and discusses recent advancements that have expanded their potential applications in targeted drug delivery systems.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a neuromuscular disease with an overall incidence of between 1 in 5,000 newborn males. Carriers may manifest progressive muscle weakness, resulting from the progressive degeneration of skeletal muscles, generating cardiac and respiratory disorders. Considering the lack of effective treatments, different therapeutic approaches have been developed, such as protein synthesis and extracellular matrix derivatives that can be used to improve muscle regeneration, maintenance, or repair. At the same time, the use of other anti-inflammatory drugs or biological agents to replace corticosteroids conjugated to these extracellular matrix derivatives may act more effectively in controlling the progression of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Extracellular matrix-derived peptides (e.g. laminin-111 derivatives) and the use of essential oils with anti-inflammatory activity in polymeric particles for application in the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy are discussed. For this purpose, the literature of patents and scientific articles from 2012–2024 on LM-111 peptides and Duchenne muscular dystrophy was reviewed. Many patents focus on palliative technologies that seek to prolong the progressive effects of the disease, considering the control of the inflammatory process. The technological and scientific prospecting suggests the need for continuous research on systems that can serve as a treatment for Dystrophy.

Breast cancer continues to pose a significant global health challenge, with conventional therapies frequently hindered by resistance mechanisms and undesirable side effects. This review investigates the therapeutic potential of polyphenols—naturally occurring compounds recognized for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties—as alternative or complementary treatments for breast cancer. We examine the molecular pathways through which polyphenols exert their effects, including their influence on oxidative stress modulation, inflammatory responses, cellular proliferation, apoptosis, and estrogen receptor signalling. Additionally, this review addresses innovative nano-based drug delivery systems such as nanoparticles, liposomes, niosomes, and phytosomes that enhance the stability, bioavailability, and targeted delivery of polyphenols. These advanced formulations aim to overcome challenges related to polyphenol degradation, low solubility, and rapid systemic clearance, thereby enhancing their therapeutic efficacy. Through a detailed analysis, we assess the contributions of various nanocarriers in optimizing the delivery of polyphenols specifically to breast cancer cells while minimizing systemic toxicity. The evidence presented highlights the potential of polyphenols in breast cancer management, further supported by nanoformulations that improve both stability and delivery efficiency.