Layered double hydroxides and their tailored hybrids/composites: Progressive trends for delivery of natural/synthetic-drug/ cosmetic biomolecules

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are well-known and important class of hydrotalcite-type anionic clays (HTs) materials that are cost-effective with additional advantages of facile synthesis, composition, tenability, and reusability. These convincing characteristics are liable for their applications in various fields related to energy, environment, catalysis, biomedical, and biotechnology. HTs/LDHs are generally synthesized from low cost abundantly available chemical precursors through the aqueous synthetic pathways under mild reaction conditions. These materials can be termed green materials based on their non-toxic nature, availability of precursors, facile and low-cost production using aqueous medium conditions with less hazardous effluents. Diverse and fascinating characteristics have been attributed to HTs/LDHs like anion exchange ability, surface basicity, biocompatibility, controlled release of the anion specific area, porosity, easy surface modification, and pH dependent biodegradability. Hence, HTs/LDHs and their modified and/or functionalized nanohybrids/nanocomposites are reported as the potential drug delivery carriers with a capability to stabilize the susceptible bioactive molecules, may enhance the solubility of poorly soluble drugs along with controlled drug/bioactive molecule release and delivery. These clay and bioactive hybrid materials have good biocompatibility, less cytotoxicity, and better site-targeting with improved cellular uptake than that of free parent biomolecules. These lamellar solids of micro/nanostructure are compatible, host-guest materials and able to fabricate with drugs/ cosmeceutical/bio- or synthetic polymers without any change in their molecular structure and reactivity along with improvement in their stabilities. Other important features are facile synthesis, basicity, high stability with easy storage, and efficient administration with low bio-toxicity. This study enlightens the applications of HTs/ LDHs along with their hybrids/composites in the field of drug/cosmeceutical/gene delivery systems of natural/ synthetic biomolecules.

Automated summary

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are a class of materials with unique structures and properties that have a wide range of applications. LDHs can be synthesized in a cost-effective and environmentally friendly manner through aqueous synthetic pathways, and they have the advantages of easy modification and controlled release. LDHs have great potential in drug delivery, as they can stabilize drugs, enhance solubility, and control release. Additionally, LDHs have good biocompatibility and cellular uptake. This study demonstrates the applications of LDHs and their hybrids/composites in drug, cosmeceutical, and gene delivery systems.