Nanosponges are colloidal carriers that potentially improve the aqueous solubility of poorly water-soluble drug, retarding its release, improving bioavailability, enhancing physical and chemical stability and decrease skin irritation as well. In addition, hydrogels and Nano-sponges are assumed to be excellent applicants for controlled release devices, bio-adhesive devices or target devices of therapeutic agents.
Nanosponges may also be used to protect encapsulated molecules from light or from chemical and enzyme induced degradation, e.g. encapsulating 5-fluorouracile, a light-sensitive drug, in Nano-sponges protect it from light degradation, as well shelf life prolongation of camptothecin on encapsulation on Nano-sponges. Nano-sponges also protected the lactone ring from opening due to its high inclusion abilities, thereby increasing stability.
Moreover, Nano-sponges can be used to design modified release product to provide slow, continuous delivery of the drug over the entire dosing interval. This makes it possible to decrease the dose administered, change the pharmacokinetic profile, and decrease side effects. Flurbiprofen, Doxorubicin were released slowly when incorporated in β-CD Nano-sponges. As well Nelfinavir mesylate, a protease inhibitor with low bioavailability, used to treat HIV infections, loaded Nano-sponges was prepared to enhance the solubility of the drug with slow release from Nano-sponges than from a β-CD complex.