A REVIEW ON PLANT-BASED NANOSPONGES FOR TOPICAL DRUG DELIVERY
Abstract
Topical drug delivery has emerged as a key strategy for localized and controlled therapeutic interventions. Traditional systems such as ointments and creams often suffer from limitations, including poor skin permeation, uncontrolled drug release, and adverse effects like irritation and dermatitis. Nanosponges (NSs), a novel class of porous, polymeric nanocarriers, offer a promising alternative by enabling enhanced solubility, stability, biocompatibility, and sustained release of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs. Various preparation methods—such as solvent methods, emulsion solvent diffusion, ultrasound-assisted synthesis, and melt techniques—allow flexible design of nanosponge systems tailored to specific therapeutic needs.
Particularly, plant-derived bioactive compounds encapsulated into nanosponge carriers have shown improved bioavailability, stability, and therapeutic efficacy, addressing challenges of poor solubility and low absorption. Studies highlight successful applications of nanosponge formulations in antifungal, anticancer, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anti-psoriatic, and wound-healing therapies. Despite their potential, nanosponge systems face limitations such as dose dumping, scalability issues, and inability to encapsulate larger biomolecules.
This review explores the fundamentals of nanosponge technology, preparation methods, characterization, and applications, with special emphasis on plant-based nanosponge formulations. Future prospects include integrating green nanotechnology, targeted drug delivery, and clinical translation for improved therapeutic outcomes.
Keywords
Topical drug delivery, nanotechnology, nanosponges, emulsion solvent diffusion, ultrasound-assisted synthesis, bioactive compounds, bioavailability, targeted drug deliveryHow to Cite
References
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