Layer-by-Layer Coating of Solid Drug Cores: A Versatile Method to Improve Stability, Control Release and Tune Surface Properties

Abstract

Layer-by-layer coating is a simple and versatile technique based on the sequential deposition of molecular species on planar surfaces or colloidal templates. Its relevance in drug delivery primarily emerges from its versatility to control the release rate of the cargo encapsulated within the colloidal core. The focus of this review is the layer-by-layer encapsulation of colloidal particles purely composed of drug, including the core fabrication step, coating materials and techniques, multilayer shell permeability control, and reported in vitro and in vivo outcomes.

Keywords: controlled release; drug microparticles; drug nanoparticles; layer-by-layer; polyelectrolytes.