Niosomes as carriers of radiopaque contrast agents for X-ray imaging

Non-ionic surfactant vesicles (niosomes) are considered as carriers of iobi tridol, a diagnostic agent used for X-ray imaging. The niosomes, with a dia meter between 150 and 175 nm, are prepared using the film-hydration method followed by sonication. These vesicles were obtained with appropriate mixtu res of D-alpha tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate, polyoxyethyle ne glycol 4000 stearate, sorbitan monostearate, cholesterol and dicetylphos phate. Methods allowing the increase of the rate of encapsulation and the s tability of the vesicles were carried out. In addition to the study of the formulation of the vesicles, the physico-chemical and morphological propert ies of the vesicles have been studied.