Ethosomal Gel: A Comprehensive Review of Formulation, Evaluation, and Recent Patents
Author
Kushal Kumar, Priya Thakur, Dr. Avneet Gupta, Jatin, Payal
Abstract
Ethosomes, which are soft, flexible phospholipid vesicles with a relatively high ethanol concentration, have better skin-penetration properties and more deformability than conventional liposomes [1,12]. When incorporated into a gel matrix, the resulting ethosomal gel combines the deep-penetrating, dual (hydrophilic and lipophilic) drug-loading capability of the vesicular core with the beneficial spreadability, retention time, and patient acceptance of a semisolid dosage form [3,32]. This paper summarises ten years of ethosomal gel technology researchThe main ethosome fabrication techniques (cold method, hot method, ethanol/classic injection, mechanical dispersion/probe sonication, and thin-film hydration) [14], gelling techniques for converting ethosomal dispersions into topical/transdermal gels, and the complete set of physicochemical, in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo evaluation parameters used to characterise these systems are all covered [3,7]. The shift in industrial interest from simple high-ethanol vesicle compositions to low-irritation, low-ethanol platforms, ceramide-modified vesicles, and extension of the ethosome concept to non-dermal routes like the eye is demonstrated by a dedicated section that examines patents granted or published over the past ten years [21,22,23,24]. NSAIDs, antiviral and antifungal medications, anticancer medications, hormonal In addition to the ongoing issues of ethanol-related irritation, physical stability, and scale-up, agents, peptides, and cosmeceutical actives are summarised [7,20,28,33,34]. The next generation of ethosomal gel products is being shaped by emerging directions (transethosomes, nanoethosomes, binary ethosomes, and hybrid nanocarrier–gel systems) [16].
Keywords
vesicular carriers, penetration enhancers, ethosomes, ethosomal gel, transdermal medication administration, nanotechnology, and patents.
Full Text:
Download Paper PDF
References
- Ethosomes—novel vesicular carriers for improved delivery: characterisation and skin penetration capabilities Touitou E, Dayan N, Bergelson L, Godin B, Eliaz M. J Control Release. 2000; 65:403–418.
- Formulation and Assessment of Ethosomes for Enhanced Transdermal Drug Delivery: A Review is accessible at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethosome. IJSRT, the International Journal of Scientific Research and Technology, 2026.
- Saifee M, Atre M, Toshniwal R. Repaglinide Ethosomal Gel Formulation and In-vitro Assessment for Transdermal Administration. 2021; 11(4):11–17; Int J Pharm Phytopharmacol Res.
- Design, Optimization and Characterization of an Ethosomal Gel Using Miconazole Nitrate for Transdermal Drug Delivery. (Cited within: Formulation and Evaluation of Piroxicam Loaded Ethosomal Gel for Transdermal Delivery.)
- Ethosomes: A Promising Drug Delivery Platform for Transdermal Application. Cosmetics/Pharmaceutics J (MDPI), 2024;6(5):58.
- Fabrication and assessment of ethosomes for effective transdermal delivery of loxoprofen. PMC12057754, 2025/2026.
- Formulation and In Vitro Evaluation of Ethosomal Hydrogel as a Carrier System for Enhancing the Transdermal Delivery of Puerarin. ACS Omega. 2026. doi:10.1021/acsomega.5c11575.
- Ethosome-Based Transdermal Drug Delivery: Its Structural Components, Preparation Techniques, and Therapeutic Applications Across Metabolic, Chronic, and Oncological Conditions. PMC12114831, 2025.
- Ethosomes for transdermal and topical drug delivery. ResearchGate, 2012.
- Ethosomes as Novel Drug Delivery System. Int J Pharm Sci Rev Res. 2020;62(1) Article 29:173–182.
- Therapeutic and cosmeceutical potential of ethosomes: An overview. PMC3255417.
- Phospholipid Vesicles for Dermal/Transdermal and Nasal Administration of Active Molecules: The Effect of Surfactants and Alcohols on the Fluidity of Their Lipid Bilayers and Penetration Enhancement Properties. PMC7412180.
- Ethosomal nanocarriers: the impact of constituents and formulation techniques on ethosomal properties, in vivo studies, and clinical trials. PMC4887071.
- Liposomes with an Ethanol Fraction as an Application for Drug Delivery. PMC6320757.
- Cutting-edge advances in transethosomes and nanoethosomes for transdermal drug delivery. Discov Chem (Springer). 2025.
- Ethosome as a potential transdermal drug delivery system. J Pharm Biol Sci. 2025;10(2), Article 2077.
- Ethosomes as Nanocarriers for the Development of Skin Delivery Formulations. Pharm Res (Springer). 2021.
- Yang L, Wu L, Wu D, Shi D, Wang T, Zhu X. Mechanism of transdermal permeation promotion of lipophilic drugs by ethosomes. Int J Nanomedicine. 2017;12:3357–3364.
- Fu XL, Shi YB, Wang H, Zhao XG, Sun QF, Huang Y, et al. Ethosomal gel for improving transdermal delivery of Thymosin β-4. Int J Nanomedicine. 2019;14:9275–9284.
- Kim YM, Jang GH. Method of preparing bioactive substance-encapsulated ethosome, ethosome composition, and cosmetic composition including ethosome composition. US Patent US11,452,679B2, 2022; related filings US2021/0030640A1 and WO2019/004563A1.
- Ahmed TA, Alzahrani MM, Alhakamy NA, Felimban RI. Ketoconazole ophthalmic preparations containing trans-ethosomal drug nanoparticles. US Patent US11,285,148B1, 2022.
- Preparation technology and application of composite ceramide liposomes. CN Patent CN115919680A, 2023.
- Ethosomes: nanostructures for enhanced skin penetration. North-West Medical Journal, 2025/2026.
- Emulsified gel composition. US Patents US11,660,268B2; US11,219,601B2; US11,246,830B2 (PCT/JP2019/006125, priority JP2018-033218).
- Phenasteroid (finasteride) gel preparation. CN Patent CN1555804A.
- Hexapeptide derivative and cosmetic composition or pharmaceutical composition and use thereof. US Patent Application US2024/0279275A1, 2024.
- Ethosomal Gel for Topical Administration of Dimethyl Fumarate in the Treatment of HSV-1 Infections. PMC9967198, 2023.
- Yu Z, Lv H, Han G, Ma K. Ethosomes Loaded with Cryptotanshinone for Acne Treatment through Topical Gel Formulation. PLoS ONE. 2016;11(7):e0159967.
- Ethosomes and their monotonous effects on Skin cancer disruption. Front Nanotechnol. 2023.
- Development and optimization of a novel nanocarrier SabiWhite-loaded ethosomal gel for targeted skin inflammation complicated by multidrug-resistant pathogens. PMC12321823, 2025.
- Sguizzato M, Cortesi R. Liposomal and Ethosomal Gels: From Design to Application. Gels. 2023;9(11):887.
- Mousa IA, Hammady TM, Gad S, Zaitone SA, El-Sherbiny M, Sayed OM. Formulation and Characterization of Metformin-Loaded Ethosomes for Topical Application to Experimentally Induced Skin Cancer in Mice. Pharmaceuticals. 2022;15(6):657.
- Ethosomal (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate as a novel approach to enhance antioxidant, anti-collagenase and anti-elastase effects. PMC9174841.
- Some of the Recent Patents on Ethosome Delivery System. ResearchGate Table, referencing Jain et al., 2017; Matharoo et al., 2024.
- Ethosomes and Their Application in Skin Drug Delivery: An Overview. ResearchGate, 2025.
Share your valuable work from Social Media Buttons