Recent Advances in Nanoencapsulation of Phytochemicals to Combat Obesity and Its Comorbidities

Abstract

An increasing epidemic of obesity has become a serious public health concern primarily because it contributes to pathogenesis of many chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hepatobiliary disease, obstructive sleep apnea, kidney disease, some types of cancer, among others. Consumption of a variety of phytochemicals has emerged as a promising potential for combating obesity and its comorbidities. However, the generally low aqueous solubility, stability, bioavailability, and target specificity of phytochemicals, along with their side-effects and toxicity seen when used at high doses, have restricted their clinical applications. As a solution, phytochemicals can be encapsulated into nanoparticles to increase their stability and solubility, enhance their bioavailability, protect them from premature degradation in the body, prolong their circulation time, and thus enhance their antiobesity activity. In this perspective, we summarize the problems and limitations of the prominent phytochemicals (epigallocatechin gallate, trans-resveratrol, curcumin, and quercetin), the major biocompatible and biodegradable nanoparticles, and the efficacy of nanoencapsulated forms of these phytochemicals in combating obesity and its comorbidities.

Nrf2-interacting nutrients and COVID-19: time for research to develop adaptation strategies

“…Nrf2 is also involved in complications of Type‐1 diabetes [160 ]. All nine Nrf2‐interacting nutrients had an effect against obesity, often through IR [161–170 ] (Table 2 ). In addition, Nrf2 may improve adipogenesis and adipocyte differentiation [171 ].…”

A Review on Obesity Management through Natural Compounds and a Green Nanomedicine-Based Approach

“…These biomolecules are mainly responsible for the reduction of metal ions from their metallic precursor and green synthesis of metallic nanoparticles. These limitations can be overcome by using metallic nanoparticles and nanoencapsulated phytochemicals, as they increase their target specificity, bioavailability, and solubility, and more importantly, prevent them from pre-term degradation [ 10 ]. They also have a high surface to volume ratio and tunable surface chemistry.…”

“…Nanotechnology and nanoencapsulation of these secondary metabolites opens up a new horizon for overcoming this aforementioned health issue. These biochemicals can be encapsulated with biocompatible nanoparticles, which enhances their target specificity, bioavailability, stability and aqueous solubility [ 10 ]. The basic pathogenesis of obesity mainly includes an increase in appetite and a decrease in calorie expenditure by modulating physical activity and cellular functioning.…”

A Nanosized Codelivery System Based on Intracellular Stimuli-Triggered Dual-Drug Release for Multilevel Chemotherapy Amplification in Drug-Resistant Breast Cancer

“…Nevertheless, the codelivery of the above two compounds to tumors in free molecule form still suffers from excessive impediments due to their poor water solubility (PTX: 6 µg/mL, QU: 2.15 µg/mL) and inferior membrane permeability. Therefore, the practical employment of the two therapeutic agents in drugresistant cancer treatments is severely restricted [25][26][27][28]. With regard to this, it is imperative to introduce strategies for efficiently transporting PTX and QU to tumor regions to fully exert their combined antitumor effects.…”