Evaluation of liposomal delivery system for topical anesthesia

Abstract

Local anesthesia is an integral aspect of cutaneous surgery. Its effects provide a reversible loss of sensation in a limited area of skin, allowing dermatologists to perform diagnostic and therapeutic procedures safely, with minimal discomfort and risk to the patient. Moreover, the skin acts as a major target as well as principle barrier for topical/transdermal (TT) drug delivery. The stratum corneum (SC) plays a crucial role in barrier function for TT drug delivery. Despite the major research and development efforts in TT systems and their implementation for use of topical anesthetics, low SC permeability limits the usefulness of topical delivery, which has led to other delivery system developments, including vesicular systems such as liposomes, niosomes, and proniosomes, with effectiveness relying on their physiochemical properties. This review gives indepth coverage of liposomes and their use as a delivery route for topical anesthetics.