Effect of cholesterol and ethanol on dermal delivery from DPPC liposomes

Vesicles were non-occlusively applied on rat skin and the permeation pattern of the different systems, depth into the skin and the main permeation pathway were studied by using β-carotene as a fluorescent probe. CLSM studies showed that ethosomal systems were much more efficient at delivering the fluorescent substance into the skin in terms of quantity and depth, than either liposomes or hydroalcoholic solutions.