Microemulsion-based media as novel drug delivery systems

Microemulsions are clear, stable, isotropic mixtures of oil; water and surf actant, frequently in combination with a cosurfactant. These systems are cu rrently of interest to the pharmaceutical scientist because of their consid erable potential to act as drug delivery vehicles by incorporating a wide r ange of drug molecules. In order to appreciate the potential of microemulsi ons as delivery vehicles, this review gives an overview of the formation an d phase behaviour and characterization of microemulsions. The use of microe mulsions and closely related microemulsion-based systems as drug delivery v ehicles is reviewed, with particular emphasis being placed on recent develo pments and future directions. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights res erved.