Glycerosomes: Versatile Carriers for Multi-Route Drug Delivery Systems

Glycerosomes signify a groundbreaking advancement in drug delivery technology. Comprising glycerol, phospholipids, and water, glycerosomes offer superior drug stability, penetration, entrapment efficiency, fluidity, and viscosity compared with conventional liposomes. Their formation process eliminates the need for specific transition temperatures, streamlining production. Glycerol’s plasticizing properties enhance vesicle elasticity and flexibility, enabling enhanced skin penetration. These vesicles demonstrate immense promise across a range of drug delivery pathways. In dermal and transdermal applications, glycerosomes augment drug permeation by moisturizing the stratum corneum and improving membrane fluidity. For oral delivery, they shield drugs from the harsh gastrointestinal environment and boost intestinal absorption. Pulmonary delivery benefits from glycerosomes’ capacity to stabilize and disperse aerosolized vesicles, facilitating deep penetration into lung tissues. Ophthalmic applications profit from increased corneal penetration and extended retention. Intranasal use of glycerosomes enhances mucosal penetration and enables direct drug delivery to the central nervous system by circumventing the blood–brain barrier. Ongoing advancements in glycerosome technology concentrate on integrating diverse functional ingredients like essential oils, β-sitosterol, sodium hyaluronate, and trimethyl chitosan to develop specialized formulations. These variants include STO-glycerosomes, S-glycerosomes, PO-S-glycerosomes, HY-glycerosomes, TMC-glycerosomes, glycethosomes, and glycerospanlastics, all offering enhanced stability, permeability, and therapeutic efficacy. This review delves into the mechanisms of drug transport within glycerosomes, their applications in various delivery routes, and the latest technological developments, highlighting their substantial potential as versatile carriers in contemporary drug delivery systems.