The use of vesicular systems for controlled drug delivery as well as better oral bioavailability of drugs remains an area of interest in the pharmaceutical field. The potential of niosomes as drug carriers has been extensively studied in recent years. Various types of nonionic surfactants have been reported to form niosomes and are capable of encapsulating large amounts of drugs with a wide range of solubility.

Protheragen-ING focuses on developing innovative nanosome-based drug delivery systems for pharmaceutical companies and researchers in the field of drug delivery to enhance therapeutic efficacy and improve patient well-being. We can modify and optimize the composition, size, number of lamellae and surface charge of vesicles to enhance the drug delivery properties of vesicles.

Niosomes Drug Carriers

Niosomes have a bilayer structure and are formed by self-association of nonionic surfactants, hydration media, and lipids such as cholesterol in the aqueous phase. Niosomes are biodegradable, biocompatible, and nonimmunogenic. They have a long shelf life, exhibit high stability and are capable of delivering drugs to the target site in a controlled and/or sustained manner.

Fig. 1 Niosomes in drug delivery. (Seleci DA, et al. 2016)

The unique structure of nanosomes allows for the development of effective novel drug delivery systems that have the ability to load hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs. The hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs are encapsulated in the aqueous core and membrane bilayer of the liposome, respectively.

Our Comprehensive Development Services

• Niosome Formulation Development

We will collaborate with you to develop customized niosome formulations tailored to your specific drug delivery needs. We optimize the composition, size, and charge of niosomes to ensure efficient encapsulation and release of the drug.

• Encapsulation Efficiency Evaluation

We employ state-of-the-art techniques to evaluate the encapsulation efficiency of your drug within the niosomes. By determining the amount of drug encapsulated, we can assess the suitability of niosomes for your drug delivery system and make necessary adjustments to enhance efficiency.

• In Vitro Release Studies

We conduct comprehensive in vitro release studies to assess the release kinetics of the drug from the niosomes. This helps us understand the release profile and design niosomes that provide sustained or controlled drug release, maximizing therapeutic effects.

• Characterization and Stability Studies

We perform rigorous characterization and stability studies to evaluate the physicochemical properties, size distribution, zeta potential, and long-term stability of niosomes.

• Biocompatibility and Toxicity Assessment

We conduct biocompatibility and toxicity assessments to evaluate the compatibility of niosomes with biological systems.

Methods for Preparations of Niosomes

• Bubble method.
• Ether injection method.
• Hand shaking method.
• Heating method.
• Microfluidization method.
• Multiple membrane extrusion method.
• Reverse phase evaporation method.
• Sonication method.
• Thin film hydration method.
• Transmembrane pH gradient method.

Functionalization of Niosomes

The affixation of biomolecules to the surface of these drug nanocarriers helps to precisely target and concentrate the drug at the desired location. Protheragen-ING also offers functionalization of niosome surfaces by binding or adsorbing certain surface ligands onto the nanosomes in order to facilitate the delivery of the targeted drug to the intended receptor on the cell.

Fig. 2 Functionalization of niosome with chitosan, aptamer, transferrin, phenolic acid, folic acid, peptide, and by PEGylation. (Moammeri A, et al. 2023)

Below is a list of niosomal formulations that we have functionalized with various reagents.

If you are interested in harnessing the potential of niosomes for your drug delivery needs, please contact us to discuss your requirements and explore how our services can benefit your research and development efforts.