Clay-based drug-delivery systems: What Does the Future hold?

Abstract

Clays for drug delivery have been used from ancient time due to the large availability of clay minerals and their unprecedented properties. The empirical use of nanoclays from the past is converted in a stimulating scientific task aimed at building up nanoarchitectonic vehicles for drug delivery in a targeted and stimuli-responsive fashion. Here the historical aspects are discussed; next the modern examples of applications of different clay-based materials are discussed. A special focus is given to halloysite clay nanotubes, which are an emerging and very promising nanomaterial for drug-delivery purposes due to its special morphology and unique chemical properties. Advantages and limitations of these natural nanomaterials are critically discussed pointing out the future perspectives and directions for further research.

Nanocomposite Hydrogels: Advances in Nanofillers Used for Nanomedicine

“…Recent strategies have shown improved drug stability and simultaneously modified the drug delivery outline by the usage of clay minerals [57,58]. On the basis of their high retention capacities, colloidal, and swelling properties, clays have shown their applicability in drug delivery [59,60]. There are natural clays, semi-synthetic, or synthetic derivatives to carry out precise functions in new drug delivery systems.…”

Multifunctional Electrospun Nanofibers Based on Biopolymer Blends and Magnetic Tubular Halloysite for Medical Applications

“…HNT present a unique combination of natural availability, good biocompatibility, non-toxicity, high mechanical strength, and functionality. Moreover, due to its rod-like morphology and large aspect ratio, the application of HNT in nanocomposites and nanofibers has a strong reinforcing effect [41][42][43]. For potential biomedical applications, it is very important that HNT can be used as a low-cost nanocontainer for the encapsulation of a variety of different chemically and biologically active substances, including drugs, enzymes, DNA, and many others into the inner or outer surfaces of nanotubes [44][45][46][47].…”

Halloysite nanotubes: a green resource for materials and life sciences

“…Clay minerals are phyllosilicate present since the origin of the life with particular morphologies, and consequently, they are able to interact with molecules forming nanocomposites (Lazzara et al 2017b).…”