Abstract

A REVIEW: LIQUID CRYSTALS AS NOVEL VESICULAR DELIVERY SYSTEM

Charamcharla Bhanu Chandu*, Kadali Jaya Durga Prasanna, Bode Madhurima, K. Koti Veera Nagaiah, Tumbeti Haritha and Mohammad Yasiddin

Abstract

Recently, liquid crystals (LCs) studied as novel drug delivery system. The reason for this interest is due to the extensive similarity of these colloidal systems to those in living organism and their superior advantageous properties over traditional dermal, parenteral and oral dosage forms. LCs show structural, mechanical, and optical properties intermediate to those of crystalline solids and isotropic liquids. There are two principal types of LCs. Lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs) and thermotropic liquid crystals (TLCs). LLCs are prepared by heating the anisotropic substances in presence of solvent while TLCs are prepared by heating the anisotropic substances or cooling an isotropic melt of TLCs forming substances. LCs are thermodynamically stable and they possess longer shelf life. The utility of this novel system is further increased owing to its very low skin irritation potential. This review covers introduction, classification, characterization and applications of LCs.

Keywords: Liquid Crystals, Drug Delivery; Vesicles; Lyotropic liquid crystals (LLCs) and Thermo tropic liquid crystals (TLCs).