Cyclodextrin nanosponge-based systems in drug delivery and nanotherapeutics: Current progress and future prospects

Abstract In recent times, nanotechnology and nanomedicines have been researched with a major focus on manipulating materials at nanometer level that can bring about advances in imaging, diagnosis, as well as treatment of a broad spectrum of diseases. Cyclodextrin (CD)-based nanosponges (NSs), foreseen as modern nanosized delivery systems, are trendsetting hypercross-linked CD polymers that are nanostructured within a three-dimensional network. Nanosponge-based delivery systems inherit the potential for enhancing the solubility, absorption, penetration, bioavailability, in vivo stability, sustained and targetable delivery, and therapeutic efficiency of numerous pharmaceutical agents. The system predominantly and effectively addresses the aforementioned problems related to the existing formulations, with further advancements in the field of pharmaceutical sciences and technology. In this chapter, NSs are scrutinized as novel nanocarrier and adjuncts, with an all-inclusive focus on the characteristics, suitability, and versatility of CD-based NSs for their promising applications in drug delivery and nanotherapeutics.