ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Nanosponges as biomimetic decoy platforms for broad-spectrum toxin sequestration and targeted detoxification: from materials design to clinical translation

Abhinav Babu, Shikha Baghel Chauhan, and Chirag Jain

Research Scholar, Centre of Industrial Pharmacy, Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Amity University, Noida, India

E-mail: schauhan@amity.edu

Received: 23 January 2026  Accepted: 9 April 2026

Abstract:

Nanosponges are novel biomimetic nanoplatforms with immense potential for broad-spectrum toxin sequestration and targeted therapeutic delivery. These porous polymeric nanostructures, designed from cyclodextrins, hyper-cross-linked polymers, or biodegradable copolymers, display high adsorption capacity and modifiable surface chemistry. Recent breakthroughs in cell membrane-coated nanosponges have enabled the development of biomimetic decoy platforms capable of selectively sequestering bacterial toxins, venoms, viruses, and inflammatory mediators, thus inhibiting their binding to host cells and promoting biological clearance. This review compiles the classification, material engineering, fabrication methodologies, and toxin sequestration mechanisms of nanosponges, with a focus on biomimetic detoxification platforms. The translational frontiers of nanosponges, encompassing biosafety, biocompatibility, regulatory hurdles, and relative advantages over traditional antidotes, are critically examined. Notwithstanding the encouraging preclinical results, long-term biosafety, reproducibility, scalable manufacturing, and regulatory standardization continue to pose significant hurdles to clinical translation. In summary, nanosponge-based platforms offer a versatile and toxin-agnostic nanomedicine platform with potential applications in detoxification, infectious disease management, and targeted therapeutic delivery.

Graphical abstract

As artificial decoy platforms, biomimetic cell membrane-coated nanosponges competitively sequester a variety of poisons, including as viral particles, venom peptides, bacterial pore-forming toxins, and inflammatory cytokines. Nanosponges enable multivalent toxin binding, shield healthy cells from membrane disruption, and promote safe hepatosplenic clearance by imitating natural host cell membranes. This leads to systemic detoxification that is broad-spectrum, toxin-agnostic, and less toxic

Keywords: Nanosponges; Toxin sequestration; Biomimetic nanomedicine; Targeted delivery; Detoxification; Cell membrane coating

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-026-04896-1

Chemical Papers 80 (9) 9921–9935 (2026)