Modern Drug Delivery Systems for De-Addiction: Focus on Advanced Formulation Technologies for Smoking Cessation with Emphasis on Microsponge Systems

Apoorva B.M, Usha GK, S Rajarajan, K.Ramesh       

Addiction is a chronic, relapsing disorder marked by compulsive substance use, neuroadaptation, and a high risk of recurrence. Among the various forms of substance dependence, tobacco addiction remains the most prevalent, contributing substantially to the global burden of cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurological disease. Current pharmacological options for smoking cessation — including nicotine replacement therapy and antidepressants — are limited by poor bioavailability, extensive first-pass metabolism, fluctuating plasma levels, frequent dosing, and inconsistent patient compliance. These shortcomings have driven interest in advanced drug delivery systems capable of controlled, sustained drug release. Transdermal, buccal, nasal, and nanocarrier-based platforms have improved therapeutic outcomes to some extent, but issues of stability, consistency, and long-term efficacy persist. Microsponge drug delivery systems have emerged as a particularly promising alternative because their porous, non-collapsible structure allows high drug loading and controlled, prolonged release. This review examines the systemic effects of addiction and smoking, evaluates the limitations of existing smoking-cessation therapies, and surveys advanced formulation technologies, with particular emphasis on microsponge systems as a platform for improving delivery efficiency, patient compliance, and therapeutic outcomes in de-addiction therapy. Further clinical validation is needed to establish their full potential.

Keywords – Smoking cessation; microsponge drug delivery; controlled release; advanced formulation technologies; de-addiction; drug delivery systems.