Nano-sponges: A Novel Carrier for Delivery of Chemo-therapeutic Drugs

Abstract

Nano-sponges belong to the category of hyper-cross linked polymer which is based on the colloidal structure. Nano-sized carriers are developed recently and are being used to deliver poorly water soluble drug by modifying the pharmaco-kinetic parameter and provide enhanced prolonged release. As a new class of chemo-therapeutic agents is being developed, formulation is getting difficult to issues such as poor solubility, low loading capacity and less entrapment of the drug in the drug delivery system. Nano-sponges have shown to deliver the most complex and challenging Chemo therapeutic drugs due to its amphiphilic nature. Nano-sponges tend to adhere to the tumor through complex bonding and release the drugs at the tumor site, in response to the stimuli such as temperature and pH thus providing the much needed targeted drug delivery. Nano-sponge delivery system has been able to resolve the bio-availability, dose regime, enhanced formulation flexibility issues and fewer side effects while delivering the chemo-therapeutic drugs. Nano-sponges are usually prepared by cross-linking suitable polymer such as Beta-cyclodextrin with cross-linkers. The below comprehensive articles is a brief review of all chemo-therapeutic agent formulated in the Nano-sponge and various methods for the synthesis of Nano-sponges and loading of the active components in the Nano-sponge drug delivery system.