Gastroretentive Nanoformulations: The Role of Nanosponges in Enhanced Drug Delivery

Nanosponges represent a significant advancement in nanomaterials, drawing considerable interest for their unique properties and extensive applications in drug delivery, particularly in enhancing solubility, stability, sustained release, and bioavailability. These distinctive three-dimensional, porous structures are adept at encapsulating a wide array of drug molecules within their cavities, facilitating targeted and controlled delivery to specific physiological sites. This innovative methodology effectively overcomes limitations associated with conventional oral dosage forms, such as unpredictable gastric emptying and suboptimal drug retention, thereby markedly improving therapeutic efficacy and patient adherence. The nanoscale dimensions coupled with substantial porosity enable nanosponges to efficiently entrap both hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs, establishing them as a highly versatile platform for a diverse range of pharmaceutical compounds. Furthermore, nanosponges play a crucial role in mitigating issues related to drug toxicity, enhancing drug stability, and modulating drug distribution and elimination within the body. These attributes position nanosponges as highly promising and exemplary carriers for various therapeutic modalities, including vaccines, antibodies, and enzymes, offering a refined approach to drug formulation and delivery. This review critically examines the fundamental principles of nanosponge-based drug delivery systems, encompassing their preparation techniques, evaluation methodologies, and the inherent challenges encountered in their industrial synthesis and research.