Pharmacosomes: a Novel Carrier for Drug Delivery

In the area of solubility enhancement, several problems are encountered. A novel approach based on lipid drug delivery system has evolved pharmacosomes. Pharmacosomes are colloidal, nanometric size micelles, vesicles or may be in the form of a hexagonal assembly of colloidal drug dispersions attached covalently to the phospholipid. They act as a carrier for delivery of drugs quite precisely owing to their unique properties like small size, amphiphilicity, active drug loading, high entrapment efficiency, and stability. They help in the controlled release of drug at the site of action as well as in reduction in the cost of therapy, drug leakage and toxicity, increased the bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs, and restorative effects. There has been an advancement in the scope of this delivery system for a number of drugs used for inflammation, heart diseases, cancer, and protein delivery along with a large number of herbal drugs. Hence, pharmacosomes open new challenges and opportunities for improved novel vesicular drug delivery system. In this article, the advantages and limitations of pharmacosomes, Preparation methods and their applications have been discussed in detail.