title: Cubosomes: remarkable drug delivery potential.
abstract: Cubosomes are nanostructured liquid crystalline particles, made of certain amphiphilic lipids in definite proportions, known as biocompatible carriers in drug delivery. Cubosomes comprise curved bicontinuous lipid bilayers that are organized in three dimensions as honeycombed structures and divided into two internal aqueous channels that can be exploited by various bioactive ingredients, such as chemical drugs, peptides and proteins. Owing to unique properties such as thermodynamic stability, bioadhesion, the ability of encapsulating hydrophilic, hydrophobic and amphiphilic substances, and the potential for controlled release through functionalization, cubosomes are regarded as promising vehicles for different routes of administration. Based on the most recent reports, this review introduces cubosomes focusing on their structure, preparation methods, mechanism of release and potential routes of administration.
authors.affiliation: Zanjan Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology Research Center (ZPNRC), Department of Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, 45139-56184 Zanjan, Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Karami
authors.affiliation: Zanjan Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology Research Center (ZPNRC), Department of Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, 45139-56184 Zanjan, Iran. Electronic address: hamidim@zums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Mehrdad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamidi
mesh_terms: D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D065546:Drug Liberation; D008055:Lipids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids