Resveratrol-loaded nanocarriers: Characteristics, sources, health effects, recent delivery systems, and their food and biomedical applications

Resveratrol (3,5,4 '-trihydroxystilbene, RES) is a polyphenolic phytoalexin widely studied in the recent years due to its known several biological activities. In spite of the potential benefits of RES, its use is restricted because of its photosensitivity, low solubility, and fast metabolism, which intensely challenge its bioactivity and bioavailability. As RES is unstable against environmental conditions and due to its low bioavailability, multiple methods have been provided for the encapsulation of RES to facilitate its practical application in various fields. Encapsulation is introduced as an appropriate strategy in order to maintain stability, high absorption, and sustained release rate of RES. This review attempts to discuss the recent techniques used in loading RES in micro/nanocarriers and explain their wide applications in food and biomedical industries.