Functionalized biopolymer–clay-based composites as drug-cargos

Abstract Biopolymer- and clay-based composites represent an emerging group of hybrid materials and have recently attracted overwhelming attention for their exciting drug-delivery potentials. The layered clay minerals with different compositions and topologies are intercalated with various biopolymers, producing organic–inorganic hybrids with improved material and functional properties. These improvements include increased mechanical and rheological properties, reduced drug permeability and water uptake, and controlled release characteristics with enhanced bioadhesion and cellular uptake efficiencies. The present chapter reviews on recently developed composites composed of clays and biopolymers or their modified forms, which are successfully exploited as drug-cargos.