Advances in tailored drug delivery systems: Amphiphilic lyotropic mesomorphs for targeted therapeutic intervention

Amphiphilic molecules when dissolved in specific solvents form lyotropic mesomorphs with unique crystalline structures and properties. The amphiphilic nature and supramolecular architecture of nonlamellar mesomorphs such as cubosomes and hexosomes, are the adept carriers for drugs both hydrophilic and hydrophobic. The addition of surfactants to a formulation provides stability to nano-self assemblies. The larger surface area of the nano assemblies provides a high drug-loading capacity. Through structural engineering, the drug-loaded lyotropic mesomorphs can navigate through specific tissues or cells, reducing the side effects, and hence optimizing therapeutic impact. This review paper aspires to elucidate the effective and tailored drug delivery strategies and their advantages leading to advanced therapeutic intervention. It also pinpoints preparation strategies, structural-morphology aspects, characterization methods and applications in targeted drug delivery.