Microsponge Technology as a Novel Approach for Topical Drug Delivery: An Acquainted Review (original) (raw)

Microsponge Technology as a Novel Approach for Topical Drug Delivery: An Acquainted Review

Microsponge drug delivery system offers a promising opportunities in multiple pharmaceutical implementations as it has distinctive characteristics such as enhanced product quality and elegance, expanded release, enhanced drug release profile, decreased discomfort, enhanced physical, chemical, and thermal stability, making it easy to develop novel product form. These are modern drug delivery systems capable of entrapping higher concentration of drugs due to networks or pores that interconnect. They can be prepared primarily by two techniques based on liquid suspension polymerization and solvent diffusion depending upon the physicochemical properties of the drug to be loaded. Microsponge delivery system was initially designed for the delivery of drugs topically or through the skin. Nowadays, Microsponges are often used for topical delivery carriers for anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer therapy and constitute major components of variety of dermatological and cosmetic products such as creams, gel, lotion etc. Microsponges can also be used for oral delivery of drugs by using water soluble and bio-erodible polymers. Microsponges have a bright future in the coming era in various pharmaceutical applications which make them superior to the microcarriers of today. The present review introduces about various formulation approaches, characterization, applications, present market scenario, patents and future prospects on microsponge technology.