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Review
. 2025 Aug 28;15(17):1326.
doi: 10.3390/nano15171326.

Lipid-Based Drug Delivery Systems: Concepts and Recent Advances in Transdermal Applications

Lefkothea Antonara  1 , Efstathia Triantafyllopoulou  1 , Maria Chountoulesi  1 , Natassa Pippa  1 , Paraskevas P Dallas  1 , Dimitrios M Rekkas  1
Affiliations
Review

Lipid-Based Drug Delivery Systems: Concepts and Recent Advances in Transdermal Applications

Lefkothea Antonara et al. Nanomaterials (Basel). .

Abstract

Lipid-based nanocarriers are ideal drug delivery systems for transdermal administration due to their biocompatibility and biodegradability. Their lipophilicity and/or similarity to the natural lipids of the epidermis enable intermolecular interactions with the lipid membrane and therefore result in effective passage through the skin. The purpose of this review is to focus on lipid-based drug delivery nanoplatforms administered via the transdermal route by summarizing the most recent developments with the intention of fast clinical translation. Liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs), nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs), ethosomes, and transfersomes exhibit ideal physicochemical characteristics and encapsulation efficiency to enhance the effectiveness of the incorporated Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs). The state of the art for fabricating transcutaneous lipid drug delivery nanoparticles and the strategies for overcoming the current obstacles, as well as the added value of novel formulations, will be discussed within the scope of Quality by Design applications. The limitations and challenges that still exist will also be considered.

Keywords: Quality by Design; drug delivery nanosystems; ethosomes; lipid nanoparticles; liposomes; nanostructured lipid carriers; skin administration; solid lipid nanoparticles; transdermal; transferosomes.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic illustration of the skin layer showing penetration routes of the drug administered through the skin [15].
Figure 2
Figure 2
Schematic representation of an SLN and a NLC sterically stabilized with a neutral surfactant (gray) [59].
Figure 3
Figure 3
Morphological models of different types of nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) [42].
Figure 4
Figure 4
Schematic representation of the different types of lipid-based vesicular delivery systems [22].
Figure 5
Figure 5
A schematic representation of the main permeation mechanisms of ethosomes: (A) the ethanol effect and (B) the ethosome effect [67].
Figure 6
Figure 6
A schematic representation of the advantages of the lipid-based drug delivery transdermal systems.
Figure 7
Figure 7
The QbD approach towards the design and development of the lipid-based drug delivery transdermal systems.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Ishikawa diagram presenting the CQAs and CPPs for lipid-based drug delivery transdermal systems.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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