One of the raw forms of graphite is activated charcoal which has an extensive surface area allowing for the adsorption of a wide range of chemicals. It possesses the strongest physical adsorption forces of the available materials, as well as the largest volume of adsorbing porosity. Activated charcoal acts as an adsorbent, collecting and storing substances in the gastrointestinal tract, reducing or blocking absorption in the bloodstream. The ingested toxins interact with charcoal by recycling toxins in the intestinal cavity. In cases where the drug has not been absorbed from the abdominal system, it is recirculated through the liver and intestines or by means of passive diffusion or active secretion. The article aims to review the most recent advances in the use of the activated charcoal, including the dose, how charcoal acts in the body, the mechanism of action, administration, contraindications, as well as the impact of various factors on the adsorption process. In addition, we also discussed numerous medical applications of activated charcoal.
Clays are among the most important material available in nature. Montmorillonite MMT is an important type of clay mineral whose physical structure is typically perceptible as layers and sheets. Each layer is made up of one octahedral and two tetrahedral structural sheets. Due to its distinctive properties, such as swelling and adsorption, MMT has been used in a variety of industrial and therapeutic applications. The high adsorption capacity of MMT contributes to increasing drug intercalation and then its sustained release. By strongly adhering to the drug, MMT typically maintains drug release in many formulations and speeds up the solubility and bioavailability of hydrophobic drugs. MMT has also been used to develop composite delivery systems that combine it with other polymer-based materials. MMT could therefore be used to develop a variety of drug delivery systems to regulate and enhance a drug's pharmacological qualities, such as solubility, dissolution rate, and absorption. An important note to mention is that clays in general are traditionally considered bio-inert or even biocompatible. In this review, the distinguished applications of MMT clay as an agent in the medical field were discussed. Among those applications is its use as an antibacterial agent, detoxification agent, preventive obesity agent, drug carrier agent, and in the treatment of cancer, diarrhea, wounds, and bones.
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