Montmorillonite nanoclay as a multifaceted drug-delivery carrier: A review

Abstract Montmorillonite Nanoclay is currently under investigation for its use as a drug carrier system and additive at research level. Being a major fraction of bentonite-a already approved excipient, montmorillonite nanoclay composites are attracting researchers to utilize it in diversed dosage forms, particularly modified release dosage forms. Ability of anionic, cationic and nonionic surfactants to enhance basal spacing to make organoclay are a key feature in efficiency of montmorillonite composites in drug loading and drug release. Factors affecting drug entrapment, molecular level mechanism of interactions, analysis of various reports for sustained drug release and targeted drug release are reviewed for rational selection of montmorillonite in drug delivery. Montmorillonite nanoclay is also efficient to act as a carrier for delivery of therapeutic nucleotide and proteins up to a certain extent. This review is focused on the various aspects of montmorillonite nanoclay such as structure, properties, multifarious applications and biocompatibility studies outcomes.