Niosomes are non-ionic surfactant-based vesicular drug delivery systems that enhance drug stability, controlled release and targeted delivery. They encapsulate hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs, offering advantages such as improved bioavailability, reduced toxicity and suitability for multiple administration routes. Various preparation methods, including ether injection, ethanol injection, sonication and novel techniques like ball milling, influence their size, stability and drug entrapment efficiency. Characterization techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), vesicle size measurement and zeta potential analysis assess their properties. Niosomes have broad pharmaceutical applications, including cancer therapy, transdermal and ophthalmic drug delivery, and immune response modulation. Their ability to enhance drug stability and enable site-specific delivery makes them a promising platform for advanced drug delivery systems.

Oral drug administration is widely preferred for its convenience and patient compliance. However, BCS Class III drugs, with high solubility but low permeability, often face absorption challenges and low bioavailability due to hepatic first-pass metabolism. Nanostructured Lipid Carriers (NLCs) offer a promising solution by enhancing permeability, promoting lymphatic absorption and bypassing first-pass metabolism, thereby improving drug bioavailability. NLCs, an advanced lipid-based drug delivery system, overcome the limitations of Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs) by incorporating both solid and liquid lipids, enhancing drug loading, stability and controlled release. They improve drug absorption via various mechanisms, including M-cell uptake, adherence to mucosal membranes and surfactant-mediated permeability enhancement. Formulation techniques such as high-pressure homogenization ensure optimal particle size and encapsulation efficiency. Research demonstrates that NLCs outperform SLNs in drug retention and bioavailability, making them a valuable platform for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and nutraceuticals, thereby revolutionizing modern drug delivery systems.