Microsponge technology for novel topical drug delivery and oral drug delivery system: An overview

Microsponge is unique drug delivery technique used for topical controlled drug delivery system as well as oral controlled drug delivery system. Microsponges are highly porous surface polymeric microspheres.  A well typical Microsponges (25 µm) can have up to 250000 pores approximately, due to  they also  give prolonged  release of active ingredients with continuously and reduce side effect, enhanced the stability of active ingredients. Mostly liquid – liquid suspension polymerization and quasi-emulsion diffusion methods are used for preparation of microsponges with different polymer such as Ethyl cellulose, Eudragit RS- 100, Eudragit S-100 and Eudragit E-100, Eudragit L-100, acrylic polymer etc used as formulation. Various therapeutics agents are loaded into Microsponges and then consolidate into different formulation like as gel, cream, and tablets. Drug is released from microsponges by different trigging system such as pressure system, solubility system, temperature change and pH triggered system. Various process parameters like concentration of drug and polymer, concentration of surfactants, volume of internal and external phase etc. affect the particles size, production yield, encapsulation efficiency and release of drug. In market different Microsponges based product are available such as NeoBenz®Micro, Neo®MicroSD, NeoBenz®Microwash,  Retin A Micro,  Retinol 15 Night cream, EpiQuin Micro and Retinol cream etc.