Laponite‐Based Nanomaterials for Drug Delivery

Laponite is a clay-based material composed of synthetic disc-shaped crystalline nanoparticles with a large and highly ionic surface area. These characteristics enable the intercalation and dissolution of biomolecules in Laponite-based drug delivery systems. Furthermore, Laponite’s innate physicochemical properties and architecture enable the development of tunable pH-responsive drug delivery systems. Laponite’s coagulation capacity and cation exchangeability, determine its exchange capabilities, drug encapsulation efficiency, and release profile. These parameters have been exploited to design highly controlled and efficacious drug delivery platforms for sustained drug release. In this review, we give an overview of how the properties and specific interactions of various Laponite–polymer composite and drug moieties, have been leveraged to design efficient delivery of a number of therapeutics.