CUBOSOMES AS EMERGING LIPID-BASED NANOCARRIERS: FORMULATION, CHARACTERIZATION, THERAPEUTIC APPLICATIONS AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVES

Abstract

: Cubosomes are nanosized lipid-based carriers formed by bicontinuous cubic liquid crystalline phases stabilized in an aqueous medium. Cubosomes have attracted considerable attention as advanced drug delivery systems due to their unique internal architecture, high surface area, biocompatibility and ability to encapsulate hydrophilic, lipophilic and amphiphilic drugs. They enable controlled and sustained drug release, improve drug stability, bioavailability and targeted delivery. Various preparation methods such as top down, bottom up, hydrotrope dilution, spray drying, solvent evaporation and microfluidization methods have been developed to prepare stable cubosomal dispersions. Cubosomes are typically characterized by particle size analysis, zeta potential measurement, electron microscopy, small angle X-ray scattering and drug entrapment studies. The applications of cubosomes in oral, ocular, transdermal, topical, pulmonary, intranasal, cancer targeted, gene and vaccine delivery systems have exhibited promising results. The versatility and therapeutic potential of cubosomes make them a promising platform for future pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. Graphical Abstract: