Mechanisms, Formulation and Therapeutic Applications of Surfactant-Mediated Nanocarriers for Transdermal Drug Delivery

Review Article

Abstract

Transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS) represent a pivotal approach in modern therapeutics, offering the ability to bypass hepatic first-pass metabolism, maintain steady-state plasma concentration, and improve patient compliance compared to invasive routes. However, the stratum corneum functions as a formidable biological barrier, restricting the permeation of most pharmacological agents. Amphiphilic surfactants serve as critical functional excipients in overcoming this limitation by modulating the lipid bilayer structure and facilitating the partition of therapeutic agents. Physicochemical principles govern the efficacy of surfactant-based nanocarriers, including niosomes, transferosomes, transethosomes, nanoemulsions, and solid lipid nanoparticles, where structure-activity relationships dictate stability and skin permeability enhancement through mechanisms such as lipid extraction and keratin disruption. Methodological approaches for nanocarrier fabrication range from thermodynamic self-assembly to high-energy homogenization techniques, while critical quality attributes like particle size distribution, zeta potential, and entrapment efficiency directly influence biological performance. The therapeutic versatility of these systems extends to delivering hydrophilic and hydrophobic molecules for dermatological, systemic, and neurological conditions, positioning surfactant-based nanotechnology as a cornerstone of next-generation transdermal therapies