Title:Recent Advances in Biomedical Nanotechnology Related to Natural
Products
Volume: 25
Issue: 8
Author(s): Qing Xia, Tingting Liang, Yue Zhou, Jun Liu, Yue Tang and Feila Liu*
Affiliation:
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing, China
Keywords:
Natural products, nanoencapsulation, nano-processing, nano-delivery system, biomedicine, bioavailability.
Abstract: Natural product processing via nanotechnology has opened the door to innovative and
significant applications in medical fields. On one hand, plants-derived bioactive ingredients such
as phenols, pentacyclic triterpenes and flavonoids exhibit significant pharmacological activities,
on another hand, most of them are hydrophobic in nature, posing challenges to their use. To overcome
this issue, nanoencapsulation technology is employed to encapsulate these lipophilic compounds
and enhance their bioavailability. In this regard, various nano-sized vehicles, including
degradable functional polymer organic compounds, mesoporous silicon or carbon materials, offer
superior stability and retention for bioactive ingredients against decomposition and loss during
delivery as well as sustained release. On the other hand, some naturally occurring polymers, lipids
and even microorganisms, which constitute a significant portion of Earth's biomass, show promising
potential for biomedical applications as well. Through nano-processing, these natural products
can be developed into nano-delivery systems with desirable characteristics for encapsulation a
wide range of bioactive components and therapeutic agents, facilitating in vivo drug transport.
Beyond the presentation of the most recent nanoencapsulation and nano-processing advancements
with formulations mainly based on natural products, this review emphasizes the importance of
their physicochemical properties at the nanoscale and their potential in disease therapy.