In the preparation of final dosage form of a drug, it is necessary to disperse the drug in a biologically inert matrix such as polymeric matrices or clay particles, for improved drug delivery. In these cases it is necessary to produce systems that not only release the drug at an appropriate rate but also have suitable mechanical properties for the particular application. To optimize biological activity and therapeutic effect of the drug, the drug delivery compositions with modified release systems are developed where the drug is released at a controlled rate such as the controlled release oral drug delivery systems. Clay minerals like montmorillonite, rectorite find wide range of applications, in various areas of science, like drug delivery systems due to their natural abundance and the propensity with which they can be chemically and physically modified to suit practical technological needs. Montmorillonite has been extensively applied for prolonged release of drugs as it can retain large amounts of drug due to its high cation exchange capacity. It may interact with active drug molecules, but also with inactive components like polymers. On the basis of these interactions, montmorillonite and its modified forms can be effectively used to modify drug delivery systems. This review emphasizes the modifications of montmorillonite clay, its interactions with drug molecules and its applications in novel nanoparticulate drug delivery systems.
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