Unveiling the Potential of Nanoclays in Pharmaceuticals

Clay minerals or nanoclays are layered aluminosilicate nanoparticles with unique physicochemical properties, excellent biocompatibility, high surface area, lamellar structure, diverse ion-exchange capacity, tuneable surface chemistry enabling them to form different intermolecular interactions which offer supreme prospects for optimized pharmaceutical applications. This review article dives into the key characteristics of different types of nanoclays like Halloysite, Kaolinite, Sepiolite, Montmorillonite, Bentonite and Laponite, highlighting their possible exploitation within the pharmaceutical landscape. Also, the review describes the recent advances in nanoclay-based drug delivery systems and discusses the role of nanoclays as drug carriers and their use in tissue engineering and gene therapy. Nanoclays, are used to modulate drug release and stabilize the loaded active molecules as well as to enhance drug loading. Interdisciplinary research, advanced characterization techniques, and careful formulation designs are required to augment the use of nanoclays in various pharmaceutical applications. Despite the faced challenges, research on nanoclay-based drug delivery systems is growing. With targeted research and development, nanoclays are poised to redefine the biomedical domain, offering tailored and efficient therapies for a multitude of diseases.