1. NIOSOMES: A NOVEL DRUG
DELIVERY SYSTEM
Presented by:
Sanjay Kumar Yadav
Enrollment No: A10647013015
Amity Institute of Pharmacy (AIP)

2. Introduction
Methods of Preparation
Characterization of Niosomes
Applications of Niosomes
Toxicity of Niosomes
PRESENTATION FLOW

3. NOVEL DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM (NDDS)
Refers to approaches, formulations, technologies, and
systems for transporting a pharmaceutical compound in the
body as needed to safely achieve its desired therapeutic
effect
May involve scientific site-targeting within the body, or
facilitating systemic pharmacokinetics
Technologies modify drug release
profile, absorption, distribution and elimination for the
benefit of
Improving product efficacy and safety
Patient convenience and compliance
INTRODUCTION

4. EXAMPLES OF NDDS
• Niosomes
• Liposomes
• Nanoparticles
• Resealed erythrocytes
• Microspheres
• Monoclonal antibodies
• Micro emulsions
• Antibody-loaded drug
delivery
• Magnetic microcapsules
• Implantable pumps
Figure 1: various drug delivery systems (Aitha S, 2013)

5. Novel drug delivery system, in
which the medication is
encapsulated in a vesicle which is
composed of a bilayer of non-ionic
surface active agents (Nasir A, 2012)
Are very small, and microscopic in
size.
Although structurally similar to
liposomes, they offer several
advantages over them.
NIOSOMES
Figure 2: Niosomes Vesicles (Aitha S, 2013)

6. The vesicles forming
amphiphile is a non-ionic
surfactant stabilized by
addition of cholesterol and
small amount of anionic
surfactant such as dicetyl
phosphate
NIOSOMES
Figure 3: Vesicle of niosome (Aitha S, 2013)

7. Figure 4: Structure of Niosomes
STRUCTURE
OF NIOSOMES
similar to liposomes, in that they are also
made up of a bilayer.
However, the bilayer in the case of
Niosomes is made up of non-ionic
surface active agents rather than
phospholipids.
Made of a surfactant bilayer with its
hydrophilic ends exposed on the outside
and inside of the vesicle, while the
hydrophobic chains face each other
within the bilayer.
(Patel S.M, 2012)
(Makeshwar K.B, 2013)

8. Entrap solutes in a manner analogous to liposomes.
Osmotically active and stable.
Accommodate the drug molecules with a wide range of
solubility.
Exhibits flexibility in their structural characteristics
(composition, fluidity and size)
Performance of the drug molecules is increased.
Better availability to the particular site by protecting the
drug from biological environment.
Surfactants used in preparation are
biodegradable, biocompatible and non-immunogenic
SALIENT FEATURES OF
NIOSOMES (Makeshwar K.B, 2013)

9. Improve the therapeutic performance of the drug molecules by
Delayed clearance from the circulation
Protecting the drug from biological environment
Restricting effects to target cells
Niosomal dispersion in an aqueous phase can be emulsified in a
nonaqueous phase to
Regulate the delivery rate of drug
Administer normal vesicle in external non-aqueous phase.
Handling and storage of surfactants requires no special conditions.
Bioavailability of poorly absorbed drugs is increased.
Targeted to the site of action by oral, parenteral as well as topical
routes.
ADVANTAGES OF NIOSOMES
DELIVERY SYSTEM(Makeshwar K.B, 2013)

10. According to the nature of lamellarity
1. Multilamellar vesicles (MLV) 1-5 μm in size.
2. Large Unilamellar vesicles (LUV) 0.1 – 1μm in size
3. Small Unilamellar vesicles (SUV) 25 – 500 nm in size.
According to the size
1. Small Niosomes (100 nm – 200 nm)
2. Large Niosomes (800 nm – 900 nm)
3. Big Niosomes (2 μm – 4 μm)
TYPES OF NIOSOMES

11. Film Method
Ether Injection Method
Sonication
Reverse Phase Evaporation
Heating Method
Microfluidization
Multiple Membrane Extrusion Method
Transmembrane pH gradient (inside acidic) Drug
Uptake Process (remote Loading)
The “Bubble” Method
Formation of Niosomes from Proniosomes
METHODS OF PREPARATION
(Madhav N.V.S, 2011)

12. •Mixture of
Surfactant and
Cholesterol
Dissolved in an
organic solvent
in a round-
bottomed flask.
(e.g. diethyl
ether, chlorofor
m, etc.)
•organic solvent is
removed by low
pressure/vacuum at
room temperature
example
using a
rotary
evaporator.
• The resultant
dry surfactant
film is hydrated
by agitation at
50–60°C
Multilamellar
vesicles
(MLV) are
formed
FILM METHOD
• Also known as hand shaking method

13. FILM METHOD
Figure 5: Steps of Film method (Madhav N.V.S, 2011)

14. A solution of the surfactant is
made by dissolving it in diethyl
ether.
This solution is then introduced using an
injection (14 gauge needle) into warm water
or aqueous media containing the drug
maintained at 60 C.
Vaporization of the ether
leads to the formation of
single layered vesicles.
• The particle size of the Niosomes formed depend on the
conditions used, and can range anywhere between 50-1000
μm. (Madhav N.V.S, 2011)
ETHER INJECTION METHOD
Figure 6: Steps of Ether injection method (Madhav N.V.S, 2011)

15. The mixture is
probe sonicated
at 60 C for 3
minutes using a
sonicator with a
titanium probe to
yield Niosomes.
Added to the
surfactant/
cholesterol
mixture in a
10 ml glass
vial
Aliquot
of drug
solution
in buffer
SONICATION
Figure 7: Sonication method (Madhav N.V.S, 2011)

16. Creation of a solution
of cholesterol and
surfactant (1:1 ratio)
in a mixture of ether
and chloroform
An aqueous phase
containing the drug
to be loaded is
added to this
Resulting two
phases are
sonicated at 4-
5 C
A clear gel is
formed which is
further sonicated
after the addition
of phosphate
buffered saline
(PBS)
Temperature is
raised to 40 C and
pressure is reduced
to remove the
organic phase
Viscous Niosome
suspension is formed
which can be diluted
with PBS and heated
on a water bath at
60 C for 10 minutes
to yield Niosomes
REVERSE PHASE EVAPORATION
(Madhav N.V.S, 2011)

17. Non-toxic, Scalable and one-step method.
HEATING METHOD
Mixtures of non-ionic
surfactant, cholesterol
and/or charge inducing
molecules are added to an
aqueous medium e.g.
buffer, distilled H2O, etc
• In the presence of a
Polyol such as glycerol.
The mixture is
heated while
stirring at low
shear forces
• Until vesicles are
formed
(Madhav N.V.S, 2011)

18. Recent technique used to prepare Unilamellar vesicles of
defined size distribution.
based on submerged jet principle
MICROFLUIDIZATION
Two fluidized
streams interact at
ultra high
velocities, in
precisely defined
micro channels
within the interaction
chamber
The impingement of thin
liquid sheet along a
common front is arranged
such that the energy
supplied to the system
remains within the area of
Niosomes formation
The result is a greater
uniformity, smaller
size and better
reproducibility of
Niosome are formed
(Madhav N.V.S, 2011)

19. MICROFLUIDIZATION
Figure 8: Steps of microfludization method (Madhav N.V.S, 2011)

20. Good method for controlling Niosomes size.
MULTIPLE MEMBRANE EXTRUSION
METHOD
Mixture of surfactant, cholesterol and
dicetyl phosphate in chloroform is made
into thin film by evaporation
The film is hydrated with aqueous drug
solution
Resultant suspension is extruded through
polycarbonate membranes which are
placed in series for upto 8 passages
Figure 9: Multiple membrane
extrusion method (Madhav N.V.S, 2011)

21. Solution of surfactant
and cholesterol is made
in chloroform
Solvent is then evaporated
under reduced pressure to get
a thin film on the wall of the
round bottom flask, similar to
the hand shaking method
This film is then
hydrated using citric acid
solution by vortex
mixing
Resulting Multilamellar
vesicles are then treated
to three freeze thaw
cycles and sonicated
To the Niosomal
suspension, aqueous
solution containing
10mg/ml of drug is
added and vortexed
pH of the sample is
then raised to 7.0-7.2
using 1M disodium
phosphate
Mixture is heated at
60 C for 10 minutes to
give Niosomes
TRANSMEMBRANE pH GRADIENT DRUG
UPTAKE PROCESS (Madhav N.V.S, 2011)

22. A recently developed technique which allows the preparation of
Niosomes without the use of organic solvents.
BUBBLE METHOD
The bubbling unit consists of a round bottom flask with three
necks, and this is positioned in a water bath to control the
temperature.
Water-cooled reflux and thermometer is positioned in the
first and second neck, while the third neck is used to supply
nitrogen.
Cholesterol and surfactant are dispersed together in a buffer
(pH 7.4) at 70 C.
This dispersion is mixed for a period of 15 seconds with
high shear homogenizer and immediately afterwards, it is
bubbled at 70 C using the nitrogen gas to yield Niosomes.
(Madhav N.V.S, 2011)

23. FORMATION OF NIOSOMES FROM
PRONIOSOMES (Makeshwar K.B, 2013)
Water soluble
carrier such as
sorbitol is
coated with
surfactant.
The result of the
coating process is a
dry formulation in
which each water-
soluble particle is
covered with a thin
film of dry
surfactant.
This preparation
is termed
“Proniosomes”.
The Niosomes
are recognized by
the addition of
aqueous phase at
T > Tm and brief
agitation.
T=Temperature.
Tm = mean phase transition temperature

24. POST-PREPARATION PROCESSES
(Madhav N.V.S, 2011)

25. 1) Dialysis:
The aqueous niosomal dispersion is dialyzed in a dialysis tubing
against phosphate buffer or normal saline or glucose solution.
2) Gel Filtration:
The unentrapped drug is removed by gel filtration of niosomal
dispersion through a Sephadex-G -50 column and elution with
phosphate buffered saline or normal saline.
3) Centrifugation:
The niosomal suspension is centrifuged and the supernatant is
separated. The pellet is washed and then resuspended to obtain a
niosomal suspension free from unentrapped drug.
POST-PREPARATION PROCESSES
(Makeshwar K.B, 2013)

26. a) Size, Shape and Morphology
b) Entrapment efficiency
c) Vesicle diameter
d) In vitro release
e) Vesicle charge
f) Bilayer rigidity and Homogeneity
g) Osmotic Shrinkage
h) Physical stability of vesicles at different temperature
i) Turbidity Measurement
CHARACTERIZATION OF NIOSOMES
(Singh C.H et al, 2011)

27. Structure of surfactant based vesicles has been visualized
and established using freeze fracture microscopy
Photon correlation spectroscopy used to determine mean
diameter of the vesicles.
Electron microscopy used for morphological studies of
vesicles
Laser beam is generally used to determine size
distribution, mean surface diameter and mass distribution of
Niosomes.
SIZE, SHAPE AND MORPHOLOGY
(Singh C.H et al, 2011)

28. After preparing Niosomal dispersion, unentrapped drug is
separated by
Dialysis
Centrifugation
Gel filtration
Drug remained entrapped in Niosomes is determined by
complete vesicle disruption using 50% n-propanol or
0.1% Triton X-100 and analysing the resultant solution by
appropriate assay method for the drug. (Bragagnia M, 2012)
ENTRAPMENT EFFICIENCY

29. To determine drug loading and encapsulation
efficiency, the niosomal aqueous suspension was
ultracentrifuged, supernatant was removed and sediment
was washed twice with distilled water in order to
remove the adsorbed drug.
The Niosomal recovery was calculated as:
NIOSOMAL DRUG LOADING
(Makeshwar K.B, 2013)

30. Niosomes diameter can be determined using
Light microscopy
Photon correlation microscopy
Freeze fracture electron microscopy.
Freeze thawing
VESICLE DIAMETER
(Shirsand S.B et al, 2012)
Figure 10: Microphotograph of Niosomes (Shrisand S.B et al, 2012)

31. At various time intervals, the buffer is analysed for the drug content by an appropriate
assay method.
The bag containing the vesicles is placed in 200 ml of buffer solution in a 250 ml beaker
with constant shaking at 25°C or 37°C.
The vesicle suspension is pipetted into a bag made up of the tubing and sealed.
A dialysis sac is washed and soaked in distilled water.
A method of in-vitro release rate study includes the use of dialysis tubing.
IN VITRO RELEASE(Makeshwar K.B, 2013)

32. VESICLE CHARGE
(Makeshwar K.B, 2013)

33. The biodistribution and biodegradation of Niosomes are
influenced by rigidity of the bilayer.
Homogeneity can occur both within Niosomes structures
themselves and between Niosomes in dispersion and
could be identified via. NMR, Differential Scanning
Calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform-infra red
spectroscopy (FT-IR) techniques.
Membrane rigidity can be measured by means of
mobility of fluorescence probe as a function of
temperature. (Patel S.M, 2012)
BILAYER RIGIDITY AND HOMOGENEITY

34. Osmotic shrinkage of vesicles can be determined by
monitoring reductions in vesicle diameter, initiated by
addition of hypertonic salt solution to suspension of
Niosomes.
Niosomes prepared from pure surfactant are osmotically
more sensitive in contrast to vesicles containing cholesterol.
OSMOTIC SHRINKAGE
(Singh C.H et al, 2011)

35. Aggregation or fusion of vesicles as a function of
temperature was determined as the changes in vesicle
diameter by laser light scattering method.
The vesicles were stored in glass vials at room
temperature or kept in refrigerator (4oC) for 3 months.
The changes in morphology of Multilamellar vesicles
(MLVs) and also the constituent separation were assessed
by an optical microscope.
The retention of entrapped drug were measured 72 hours
after preparation and after 1, 2 or 3 months in same
formulations
PHYSICAL STABILITY OF VESICLES
AT DIFFERENT TEMPERATURE
(Singh C.H et al, 2011)

36. Niosomes were diluted with bidistilled water to give a total
lipid concentration of 0.312 mM
After rapid mixing by sonication for 5 min
Turbidity was measured as the absorbance with an
ultraviolet-visible diode array spectrophotometer.
TURBIDITY MEASUREMENT
(Singh C.H et al, 2011)

37. Niosomes as Drug Carriers
Diagnostic imaging with Niosomes
Drug Targeting
Delivery to the brain
Anti cancer drugs
Anti infectives
Targeting of bioactive agents
To Reticulo-endothelial system (RES)
To organs other than RES
NIOSOME DELIVERY APPLICATIONS
(Malhotra M, 1994)

38. Ophthalmic drug delivery
Delivery of peptide drugs
Immunological application of Niosomes
Transdermal delivery of drugs by Niosomes
Delivery system for the vasoactive intestinal peptide
(VIP)
Niosomes as carriers for Hemoglobin
Niosomal vaccines
NIOSOME DELIVERY APPLICATIONS
Nasir A. et al, (2012)

39. Sustained Release
Localized Drug Action
OTHER APPLICATIONS
Nasir A. et al, (2012)

40. Unfortunately, there is not enough research conducted to
investigate toxicity of Niosomes.
It was determined that the ester type surfactants are less
toxic than ether type surfactants.
In general, the physical form of Niosomes did not
influence their toxicity as evident in a study comparing
the formulations prepared in the form of liquid crystals
and gels.
Nasal applications of these formulations caused toxicity in
the case of liquid crystal type Niosomes.
TOXICITY OF NIOSOMES
Vyas S.P, 2011

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REFERENCE