Aerogels in drug delivery: From design to application

Aerogels are the lightest processed solid materials on Earth and with largest empty volume fraction in their structure. Composition versatility, modularity, feasibility of industrial scale manufacturing behind fast emergence aerogels drug delivery field. Compared to other 3D materials, high porosity (interconnected mesopores) specific surface area may allow faster loading small-molecule drugs, less constrained access inner regions matrix, more efficient interactions biological milieu polymer matrix. Processing supercritical CO 2 medium for both aerogel production (drying) (impregnation) has remarkable advantages such as absence an oxidizing environment, clean manufacture, easiness scale-up under good practices. The skeleton dictates chemical affinity different which turn determines efficiency release pattern. can be used increase solubility BCS Class II IV drugs because deposited amorphous state onto large skeleton, facilitates a rapid contact body fluids, dissolution, release. Conversely, tuning structure by functionalization drug-binding moieties or stimuli-responsive components, application coatings incorporation drug-loaded into matrices enable site-specific, stimuli-responsive, prolonged present review deals last decade advances delivery. An special focus is paid first active ingredients kinetics biorelevant conditions. Subsequent sections deal intended address therapeutic demands. In addition oral delivery, physical properties appear very advantageous mucosal administration routes, pulmonary, nasal, transdermal. A section devoted recent achievements gene therapy theranostics also included. section, up strategies life cycle assessment comprehensively addressed. • Drug scCO drug-skeleton determine amount loaded Release rate depends crystalline state, hydrophilicity swelling suitable fast, sustained make appealing transdermal Gene accomplished