Invasomes: A Novel Vesicular Nanocarrier for Transdermal Drug Delivery – A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Invasomes are emerging as a promising class of vesicular drug delivery systems designed to overcome the formidable barrier posed by the stratum corneum in transdermal drug delivery. These soft, deformable lipid vesicles are composed of phospholipids, ethanol, and terpenes, which synergistically enhance both carrier flexibility and skin permeability. Compared with conventional liposomes and ethosomes, invasomes exhibit superior penetration into and through the skin, enabling improved local or systemic delivery of poorly permeable drugs. This review article summarizes the structure, composition, and mechanisms of action of invasomes, highlights major preparation techniques, discusses critical physicochemical and biological characterization parameters, and outlines current therapeutic applications and translational prospects, including formulation and regulatory considerations. The compilation aims to consolidate available knowledge and identify key research gaps and future directions for invasome based drug products.