Molecular sieve as a kind of nano drug carrier: Application and exploration in modern medical technology——A review

Abstract

In recent years, the Nano Drug Delivery System (NDDS) has significantly captured the interest of scientists. Utilizing nanomaterials is recognized as an exceptionally promising method for drug delivery across various medical disciplines. Considerable research has led to groundbreaking advancements in this area. Among these developments, molecular sieves, also known as zeolites, have emerged as a notable class of aluminosilicate crystalline materials. Molecular sieves' porous nature allows for the encapsulation of antibacterial and anticancer drugs, facilitating targeted delivery. They can control drug release, reducing drug resistance in microbes and tumors. Besides drug delivery, they contribute to osteogenesis, useful in dental implant coatings. Their potential in hemostatic bandages also highlights their versatility and broad medical applicability. When writing this review, an exhaustive search was conducted on PubMed, Elsevier ScienceDirect, Wiley Online Library, and Web of Science. While taking into account the novelty of the selected articles, some valuable foundational articles were also reviewed. Before December 30, 2024, full-text articles related to molecular sieve drug delivery systems and other biomedical applications of molecular sieves were selected. In this article, we briefly described and discussed the research on different types of molecular sieves loaded with drugs that possessing different functions. At the same time, we also collected and discussed some research on different types of molecular sieves used in other biomedical fields, including antidiarrheal treatment and hemostasis, which emphasizes the wide-ranging impact of molecular sieves in healthcare and medical research.