Insight on development and evaluation of nanosponge drug delivery for improved therapeutic effectiveness

Nanosponges are the recent advances in nanotechnology. Nanosponge delivery system was originally developed for topical drug delivery. Nowadays it can also be used for oral delivery of drugs using water soluble and bio erodible polymers. Nanosponges are porous structures with a size of about a virus (average diameter below 1μm). Due to small size and porous nature; nanosponges can bind to poorly soluble drugs and improves their bioavailability. These nanosponges can circulate within body and interact with specific target site. At target site start releasing the drug in a controlled manner. Various techniques are reported for the preparation of Nanosponges as melt method, solvent diffusion method, solvent method, ultrasound assisted method and sonication etc. Nanosponges are the target specific drug delivery which has lesser side effects. Major advantage of nanosponges as it improves solubility of poorly soluble drug and exhibits higher drug loading as compared to other nanocarriers. This review gives the highlights about the formulation methods, excipients used, evaluation of nanosponges and its benefits to overcome the undesirable properties of drug into desirable.