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Berk KABAKCI, Aysen KURT CUCU, Gulbin ERDOGAN. Meloxicam-Loaded Transfersomal Nanoparticle Delivery Systems: A Systematic Review against Conventional Liposomes; Proceedings of NanoBioMat 2026(1); 204-229
Meloxicam-Loaded Transfersomal Nanoparticle Delivery Systems: A Systematic Review Against Conventional Liposomes
Berk KABAKCI¹*, Aysen KURT CUCU², Gulbin ERDOGAN²
¹ Department of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Health Sciences, Marmara University, Istanbul, Türkiye
² Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Marmara University, Istanbul, Türkiye
*Correspondence: kabakciberk@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Meloxicam is a potent non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug belonging to the oxicam class that selectively inhibits the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme. It is widely employed in the management of chronic inflammatory conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. Oral formulations of meloxicam are associated with significant limitations such as first-pass metabolism, gastrointestinal irritation, and variable bioavailability. Furthermore, meloxicam is classified as a Class II compound according to the Biopharmaceutics Classification System, with low aqueous solubility and poor dermal penetration capacity constituting the principal physicochemical barriers to effective topical administration. These characteristics impede the delivery of therapeutically effective concentrations to deep tissue layers and restrict systemic absorption efficiency.
Transdermal drug delivery systems offer numerous pharmacokinetic advantages over oral and parenteral routes. The stratum corneum of the skin represents the principal barrier to transdermal delivery. Conventional liposomes are vesicular carriers composed of phospholipid bilayers at the nanoscale. By virtue of this architecture, they are capable of encapsulating both lipophilic and hydrophilic drugs, and their high biocompatibility and biodegradability have made them extensively investigated in pharmaceutical research. However, the capacity of conventional liposomal nanoparticles to traverse the stratum corneum is markedly limited. Transfersomal drug delivery systems are advanced ultradeformable nanoparticulate carriers employed in contemporary pharmaceutical technology. They are prepared by incorporating surface-active agents, referred to as 'edge activators', into the phospholipid structure of conventional liposomes. Transfersomes are capable of penetrating intercellular channels narrower than half their own diameter and traversing the stratum corneum while maintaining their structural integrity, ultimately accessing the systemic circulation.
In light of current experimental evidence, this review systematically evaluates the analytical, physicochemical, and biological dimensions of meloxicam-loaded transfersomes relative to conventional liposomal carriers. Within this framework, key formulation parameters, HPLC-validated analytical metrics, stratum corneum interactions characterized by FTIR and DSC, and in vitro/ex vivo permeation profiles are critically discussed alongside their clinical application potential. Furthermore, the review appraises the translational validity of the employed skin models, assesses the impact of formulation variables on physical stability, and outlines the regulatory requirements, scale-up challenges, combination therapy opportunities, and patient-selection criteria essential for advancing these platforms from preclinical development to clinical utility.
Keywords: Meloxicam, Transfersomes, Conventional liposomes, Transdermal drug delivery system, Stratum corneum, In vitro/ex vivo skin penetration