Multifaceted role of clay minerals in pharmaceuticals

The desirable physical and physiochemical properties of clay minerals have led them to play a substantial role in pharmaceutical formulations. Clay minerals like kaolin, smectite and palygorskite-sepiolite are among the world's most valuable industrial minerals and of considerable importance. The elemental features of clay minerals which caused them to be used in pharmaceutical formulations are high specific area, sorption capacity, favorable rheological properties, chemical inertness, swelling capacity, reactivity to acids and inconsiderable toxicity. Of course, these are highly cost effectual. This special report on clay minerals provides a bird's eye view of the chemical composition and structure of these minerals and their influence on the release properties of active medicinal agents. Endeavor has been made to rope in myriad applications depicting the wide acceptability of these clay minerals. With a variegated range of physical, chemical and physicochemical properties, clay minerals have an undisputable role in pharmaceutical industries. The minerals employed primarily are oxides, carbonates, sulphates, chlorides, hydroxides, sulphides, phosphates, nitrates, borates and phyllosilicates. These are widely put into use owing to their unique features. The significant contributions of these minerals are in therapeutic, cosmetics and as bulk forming agents. These are biologically compatible and hence ensure the genesis of safe and effective drug delivery systems.