Transdermal Drug Delivery (TDD) offers a superior alternative to oral routes by providing controlled release and enhanced patient compliance. By delivering drugs directly across the skin, TDD preserves the integrity of sensitive molecules by bypassing the gastrointestinal tract, avoiding acid-catalyzed hydrolysis and proteolytic cleavage by intestinal enzymes. Furthermore, this route circumvents first-pass hepatic metabolism, preventing the rapid enzymatic degradation and pH-related instability that often limit the bioavailability of lipophilic and macromolecular drugs. Consequently, TDD ensures higher therapeutic integrity and consistent systemic absorption compared to oral delivery. Despite these benefits, the Stratum Corneum (SC) remains a formidable barrier, particularly against large or charged molecules. While chemical and physical enhancers are used to improve flux, they are often limited by skin toxicity or high cost. To address these challenges, Transfersomes (TF)—highly deformable lipid vesicles—have emerged as effective carriers for deep skin penetration. These advanced lipid-based carriers build upon the limitations of traditional liposomes, which suffer from inherent physical instability that complicates storage and application. To address this, Protransfersomes (PTF) were introduced as stable, provesicular precursors that, upon contact with epidermal moisture, undergo an in situ hydration mechanism to transform into ultraflexible TF. Driven by the trans-epidermal osmotic gradient, these vesicles deform to navigate narrow intercellular channels, significantly enhancing drug transport. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of PTF as a novel provesicular system, offering insights into their design, mechanisms of action, and fabrication techniques. Furthermore, it evaluates critical quality attributes, including mean Particle Size (PS), Entrapment Efficiency (EE), turbidity, and stability, highlighting the translational potential of PTF as a robust platform for next-generation drug delivery.
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