Research progress of nano-delivery systems for the active ingredients from traditional Chinese medicine

IntroductionTraditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used for thousands of years in China, characterizing with novel pharmacological mechanisms, low toxicity, and limited side effects. However, the application of TCM active ingredients is often hindered by their physical and chemical properties, including poor solubility, low bioavailability, short half-life, toxic side effects within therapeutic doses, and instability in biological environments. Consequently, an increasing number of researchers are directing their attention towards the discovery of nano-delivery systems for TCM to overcome these clinical challenges.ObjectivesThis review aims to provide the latest knowledge and results concerning the studies on the nano-delivery systems for the active ingredients from TCM.Materials and MethodsRecent literature relating to nano-delivery systems for the active ingredients from TCM is summarized to provide a fundamental understanding of how such systems can enhance the application of phytochemicals.ResultsThe nano-delivery systems of six types of TCM monomers are summarized and categorized based on the skeletal structure of the natural compounds. These categories include terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, quinones, polyphenols, and polysaccharides. The paper analyzes the characteristics, types, materials used, and the efficacy achieved by TCM-nano systems. Additionally, the advantages and disadvantages of nano-drug delivery systems for TCM are summarized in this paper.ConclusionNano-delivery systems represent a promising approach to overcoming clinical obstacles stemming from the physical and chemical properties of TCM active ingredients, thereby enhancing their clinical efficacy. This paper reviewed the nano-delivery systems of six types of TCM monomers and divided them according to the skeleton structure of the natural compounds. The characteristics, types, used materials, and the achieved efficacy of TCM-nano systems are all analyzed. The advantages and disadvantages of nano-drug delivery system of TCM are also summarized in this paper. Given the clinical obstacles due to their physical and chemical properties, nano-delivery systems are good choice for increasing their clinical efficacy.