Liquid Crystalline Inverted Lipid Phases and Reverse Micelles in Drug Delivery: From Molecular Design to Therapeutic Potential

Abstract

The advancement of drug delivery technologies has significantly accelerated the clinical translation of nanomedicine, with self-assembled lipid-based nanostructures emerging as pivotal tools in this progress. Among these, liquid crystalline inverted lipid phases (LCILPs) and reverse micelles (RMs) represent two architecturally distinct yet functionally complementary systems capable of enhancing the solubility, stability, and bioavailability of a wide range of therapeutic agents. This review presents a comprehensive analysis of the physicochemical principles, formulation strategies, and biomedical applications of LCILPs and RMs, with a particular focus on their utility in drug delivery. The study includes advanced techniques for morphological, structural and colloidal characterization as well as molecular design parameters affecting drug loading and encapsulation into these systems. While RMs remain primarily at the preclinical stage, LCILP-based technologies paved way for COVID-19 vaccines highlighting the growing translational potential of these systems. By integrating molecular architecture with formulation science and clinical applications, this review offers a unified perspective on the potential of LCILPs and RMs as useful tools in drug delivery.