Analytical tools for cyclodextrin nanosponges in pharmaceutical field: a review

With the growing popularity of the nanomedicine-based pharmaceutical market, active molecules from chemical and natural origin are encapsulated in various nanocarriers enhancing their therapeutic efficacy. Depending upon the fabricated functionality, cyclodextrin based nanosponges has become a potential vehicle to encapsulate the active molecules. To explore nanosponges-based delivery system in pharmacy, knowledge of the analytical tools that could significantly assess their quality parameters, has major role for researchers working in this field. Owing to understand their benefits and potential toxicity, characteristic features like safety, negligible toxicity, superior inclusion capability, marked swelling behaviour and biodegradability are the primarily basis for their use in drug delivery, drug targeting, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. This review article focuses on the various aspects of analytical techniques applied for characterization of nanosponges, which may affect quality of these nanocarriers. Subsequently, the challenges for characterization of these systems have been especially emphasized. In addition, sincere efforts have been made to compile various analytical techniques for description and understanding of these nanostructures from existing literature. Recommendations and suggestions are also mentioned while selecting suitable analytic techniques to characterize the quality parameters of nanosponges.