Nano-Drug Delivery Systems Based on Natural Products

Abstract

Natural products have proven to have significant curative effects and are increasingly considered as potential candidates for clinical prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Compared with synthetic drugs, natural products not only have diverse structures but also exhibit a range of biological activities against different disease states and molecular targets, making them attractive for development in the field of medicine. Despite advancements in the use of natural products for clinical purposes, there remain obstacles that hinder their full potential. These challenges include issues such as limited solubility and stability when administered orally, as well as short durations of effectiveness. To address these concerns, nano-drug delivery systems have emerged as a promising solution to overcome the barriers faced in the clinical application of natural products. These systems offer notable advantages, such as a large specific surface area, enhanced targeting capabilities, and the ability to achieve sustained and controlled release. Extensive in vitro and in vivo studies have provided further evidence supporting the efficacy and safety of nanoparticle-based systems in delivering natural products in preclinical disease models. This review describes the limitations of natural product applications and the current status of natural products combined with nanotechnology. The latest advances in nano-drug delivery systems for delivery of natural products are considered from three aspects: connecting targeting warheads, self-assembly, and co-delivery. Finally, the challenges faced in the clinical translation of nano-drugs are discussed.

Electrophilic Compounds in the Human Diet and Their Role in the Induction of the Transcription Factor NRF2

“…Exploring their potential in conditions like neurodegenerative diseases and cancer is an ongoing area of research [ 294 ]; Innovations in drug delivery can enhance the bioavailability and tissue specificity of ECs. Nanoparticles, liposomes, and other carriers can improve their therapeutic impact [ 295 ]; Combination therapies. The integration of ECs with existing drugs or other treatment modalities could lead to synergistic effects.…”

“…Innovations in drug delivery can enhance the bioavailability and tissue specificity of ECs. Nanoparticles, liposomes, and other carriers can improve their therapeutic impact [ 295 ];…”

The Emerging Roles of Nanocarrier Drug Delivery System in Treatment of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration-Current Knowledge, Hot Spots, Challenges and Future Perspectives

“…NDDSs offer the advantage of incorporating multiple therapeutic agents, enabling tailored release kinetics and precise targeting capabilities. 17,18 By concentrating and prolonging the residence of drugs within IVD tissues, NDDSs possess the capability to augment therapeutic outcomes and enhance the efficacy of treatment. [19][20][21][22][23] This review provides a succinct overview of the underlying pathogenic mechanisms implicated in the progression of IVDD and delineates the current constraints associated with existing treatment modalities.…”

Drug Delivery Systems of Betulin and Its Derivatives: An Overview

“…The interest in natural products as potential candidates for clinical prevention, diagnosis, and treatment is growing due to their proven significant curative effects. Compared to synthetic drugs, natural products not only have diverse structures but also exhibit a range of biological activities against different disease states and molecular targets, making them attractive for development in the field of medicine [ 1 ]. The use of natural plant-derived compounds has been considered as an interesting aspect for medical and pharmaceutical applications.…”

“…Despite advancements in the use of natural products for clinical purposes, there are still some obstacles that hinder their full potential, e.g., their limited solubility and stability when administered orally or their short duration of effectiveness. To address these concerns, drug delivery systems have emerged as a promising solution to overcome the barriers faced in the clinical application of natural products [ 1 ]. Moreover, there is a need for the development of delivery systems of BE and its new derivatives due to the characteristics of triterpenes, such as hydrophobicity, low solubility, and the resulting poor bioavailability [ 5 , 6 ].…”