Author(s):
Ruchita Bachhav, Shivraj Jadhav, Yash Sunil Bachhav
Email(s):
shiva.007ind@gmail.com
DOI:
10.52711/2231-5713.2026.00053
Address:
Ruchita Bachhav1, Shivraj Jadhav2*, Yash Sunil Bachhav2
1Department of Pharmaceutics, Divine College of Pharmacy, Satana, (Affiliated to Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune), Maharashtra, India, 423301.
2Department of Pharmaceutics, Mahatma Gandhi Vidyamandir’s Samajshri Prashantdada Hiray College of Pharmacy, Malegaon (Affiliated to Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune), Maharashtra, India, 423203.
*Corresponding Author
Published In:
Volume - 16,
Issue - 4,
Year - 2026
ABSTRACT:
Mood disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety are closely linked to imbalances in key neurotransmitters including dopamine, serotonin, glutamate, norepinephrine, and GABA. Excessive accumulation of these neurotransmitters can result in excitotoxicity, neuroinflammation, and behavioural dysregulation, ultimately impairing mental health. Traditional pharmacological approaches often lack specificity, cause systemic side effects, or fail to maintain neurotransmitter homeostasis. In recent years, nanosponges—nanoscale, porous, and biocompatible polymeric structures have emerged as promising tools for targeted detoxification of excess neurotransmitters. This review explores the mechanisms by which nanosponges adsorb and regulate neurotransmitter levels, focusing on surface functionalization, passive adsorption, blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, and stimuli responsive release. Animal models have demonstrated the efficacy of nanosponges in adsorbing or detoxifying excess neurotransmitters, effectively modulating dopaminergic and GABAnergic systems in preclinical settings. Overall, nanosponges represent a safe strategy for restoring neurotransmitter balance and stabilizing mood, with immense potential in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders.
Cite this article:
Ruchita Bachhav, Shivraj Jadhav, Yash Sunil Bachhav. A Review on Nanosponges for Neurotransmitter Detoxification. Asian Journal of Pharmacy and Technology. 2026; 16(4):381-8. doi: 10.52711/2231-5713.2026.00053
Cite(Electronic):
Ruchita Bachhav, Shivraj Jadhav, Yash Sunil Bachhav. A Review on Nanosponges for Neurotransmitter Detoxification. Asian Journal of Pharmacy and Technology. 2026; 16(4):381-8. doi: 10.52711/2231-5713.2026.00053 Available on: https://ajptonline.com/AbstractView.aspx?PID=2026-16-4-8
8. REFERENCES:
1. Tsuboi D, Nagai T, Yoshimoto J, Kaibuchi K. Neuromodulator regulation and emotions: insights from the crosstalk of cell signaling. Front Mol Neurosci. 2024; 17: 1376762. doi:10.3389/fnmol.2024.1376762.
2. Alqahtani NSA, Althawadi LY, Aladaili QA, Almutairi NHS, Almujalli AZ, Alshehri DA, et al. Mental health and neurotransmitters: chemical basics—an updated review. Egypt J Chem. 2025. doi:10.21608/ejchem.2025.427818.12399.
3. Gole VG, Patwekar SL, Doiphode A, Rode A, Shaikh S. A overview on nanosponges. Asian J Res Pharm Sci. 2022 Apr 1; 12(3): 210-2.
4. Sushma NC, Nesalin JAJ, Gopinath E, Chandy V. An outlook towards nanosponges: a propitious nanocarrier for novel drug delivery. Asian J Res Pharm Sci. 2023 Apr 1; 13(3): 248-4.
5. Yadav RP, Sheeba FR. Nanosponges - overview. Asian J Pharm Technol. 2022 Apr 1; 12(1): 70-6.
6. Wilar G, Suhandi C, Wathoni N, Fukunaga K, Kawahata I. Nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems enhance treatment of cognitive defects. Int J Nanomedicine. 2024; 19: 11357-78. doi:10.2147/IJN.S484838.
7. Balwe MB. Nanosponge a novel drug delivery system. Res J Pharma Dosage Forms Tech. 2020 Apr 1; 12(4): 261-266.
8. Verma N, Rama A, Jha A, Ladani B, Govindan I, Kannan S, et al. Nanosponges: advancement in nanotherapeutics. Res J Pharm Technol. 2022; 15: 4253-60. doi:10.52711/0974-360X.2022.00715.
9. Praveen K, Balamurugan K. Targeted drug delivery through nanosponges and its approach. Res J Pharm Tech. 2020 Apr 1; 13(7): 3524-3529.
10. Gole VG, Patwekar SL, Doiphode A, Rode A, Shaikh S. An overview on nanosponges. Asian J Pharm Sci. 2022; 12(3): 210-2. doi:10.52711/2231-5659.2022.00037.
11. Azeez SA, Sultana A, Hajera A. β-Cyclodextrin with sodium alginate based nanosponges preparation and characterization in the removal of organic toxin: p-cresol in the simulated biological fluids. Asian J Res Pharm Sci. 2022 Apr 1; 12(4): 261-1.
12. Upadhye SS, Balkundhi S, Ghorpade VS, Ambavade SD, Abhang SV, Mulla SI, et al. Nanosponges: an innovative approach for targeted drug delivery system. Res J Pharm Tech. 2021 Apr 1; 14(3): 1797-1804.
13. Jadhav SP, Chawra H, Jadhav KR, Sonawane DD. Nanotechnology in pharmaceutical science: a concise review. SGVU J Pharm Res Educ. 2020 Apr 1; 5(2): 520-32.
14. Yu L, Shao Z, Xu L, Wang M. High throughput preparation of aligned nanofibers using an improved bubble-electrospinning. Polymers. 2017; 9(12): 658. doi:10.3390/polym9120658.
15. Shah R, Chavda D. Nano sponge: an emerging nanotechnology-based drug delivery system. Res J Pharm Dosage Forms Technol. 2024; 16:67-75. doi:10.52711/0975-4377.2024.00012.
16. Teleanu RI, Niculescu AG, Roza E, Vladacenco O, Grumezescu AM, Teleanu DM. Neurotransmitters—key factors in neurological and neurodegenerative disorders of the central nervous system. Int J Mol Sci. 2022; 23(11): 5954. doi:10.3390/ijms23115954.
17. Ramírez-Expósito MJ, Cueto-Ureña C, Martínez-Martos JM. Neurotransmitter systems in Alzheimer’s disease. Curr Issues Mol Biol. 2026; 48(3): 334. doi:10.3390/cimb48030334.
18. Wang D, Ai X, Duan Y, Xian N, Fang RH, Gao W, et al. Neuronal cellular nanosponges for effective detoxification of neurotoxins. ACS Nano. 2022; 16(11): 19145-54. doi:10.1021/acsnano.2c08319.
19. Muhammad F, Nguyen TDT, Raza A, Akhtar B, Aryal S. A review on nanoparticle-based technologies for biodetoxification. Drug Chem Toxicol. 2017; 40(4): 489-97. doi:10.1080/01480545.2016.1277736.
20. Chandra S, Lang H, editors. Recent trends of functional nanomaterials for biomedical and healthcare applications. Basel: MDPI; 2024. doi:10.3390/books978-3-7258-0179-4.
21. Chen Y, Zhang Y, Zhuang J, Lee JH, Wang L, Fang RH, et al. Cell-membrane-cloaked oil nanosponges enable dual-modal detoxification. ACS Nano. 2019; 13(6): 7209-15. doi:10.1021/acsnano.9b02773.
22. Jadhav SR, Gupta A, Colaco V, Saha M, Sreedevi A, Datta D, et al. Multifunctional nanosponges in cancer therapy: integrating targeted drug delivery and theranostic potential. Int J Pharm X. 2025; 10: 100421. doi: 10.1016/j.ijpx.2025.100421.
23. Sadhasivam J, Sugumaran A, Narayanaswamy D. Nanosponges: a potential drug delivery approach. Res J Pharm Technol. 2020; 13(7): 3442. doi:10.5958/0974-360X.2020.00611.3.
24. Malik P, Nandini D, Tripathi BP. Characterization techniques for nanosponges. In: Gulati S, editor. Nanosponges for environmental remediation. Cham: Springer; 2023. p.61-86. doi:10.1007/978-3-031-41077-2_4.
25. Kumar K. Drug design and characterization of nanosponges for enhanced solubility of poorly soluble drugs. J Pharm Technol Clin Pract. 2019: 1-10. doi:10.53555/5jqs4p38.